FILE– Troy Rosario during his stint with Gilas Pilipinas in the 2019 SEA Games in Manila.
MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Pilipinas will have a shot in its arm for the third window of the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers as it grapples with a shorthanded roster.
With the injury bug hitting big men Kai Sotto and Kevin Quiambao and the uncertainty of Jamie Malonzo’s minutes, Gilas is bringing back Troy Rosario to the training pool.
Article continues after this advertisement
The Ginebra big man will be joining the national team in its training camp in Doha, Qatar later this month in preparation for the third and final window of the Asian Cup qualifiers, where Gilas faces Chinese Taipei (Feb. 20) and New Zealand (Feb. 23).
READ: After giant-killing 2024, Gilas Pilipinas ready to conquer more
“Yes, he is going on our Doha trip,” said coach Tim Cone in a text message with Inquirer Sports Wednesday night.
Article continues after this advertisement
Rosario has been a steady anchor for both offense and defense in the Gin Kings’ run in the ongoing PBA Commissioner’s Cup since joining the team a few months ago.
The former Blackwater star is returning to the Gilas pool after several stints with the Nationals, the last being the silver-medal team in the 2021 Southeast Asian Games.
Rosario’s call-up came after back-to-back injury reports of Sotto (torn ACL) and Quiambao (torn ankle ligament) surfaced just a month before the pair of games.
By virtue of its unbeaten record after two windows, Gilas has already qualified for the Fiba Asia Cup 2025 set for August in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.
