FIBA: Barangay Ginebra’s Troy Rosario set for Gilas Pilipinas pool return

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Gilas Pilipinas forward Troy Rosario. File photo from FIBAMANILA — Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s sweet shooting ace Troy Rosario is in a prime spot for another shot at a tour of duty with Gilas Pilipinas.

The 6-foot-7, 32-year-old will be beefing up the National team’s pool for the February window of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers as they deal with the respective injuries of Kai Sotto and Kevin Quiambao.

“Yes, he will join us in our Doha trip,” head coach Tim Cone told ABS-CBN News in a message on Wednesday. “Troy will compete for a spot in the [Final] 12.”

The Ginebra and Gilas mentor was pertaining to the Qatar training camp that they have planned before they go up against Chinese Taipei on February 20, and battle New Zealand anew in a much-anticipated rematch on February 23.

Rosario, who last played with Gilas in the COVID-19 pandemic-delayed 2021 Southeast Asian Games, is expected to bring in his much-needed size to the National team, as the 7-foot-3 Sotto is currently dealing with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, while the 6-foot-6 Quiambao hurt his right ankle last Sunday.

Sotto suffered the injury with his Japan B.League team Koshigaya Alphas in a 79-77 loss last January 5, while Quiambao hurt his ankle six minutes and 56 seconds into his Korean Basketball League debut with the Goyang Sono Sky Gunners on January 12.

READ: Cone sticking with Aguilar, Amos as Gilas waits for update on Sotto’s injury scare

Also expected to fight for a spot for Gilas’ roster in the upcoming games are the fit again Jamie Malonzo and AJ Edu, as well as veteran big man Japeth Aguilar and De La Salle University’s 6-foot-7 Mason Amos.