TNT’s Rosario joins Gilas pool

MANILA, Philippines – Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes added TNT KaTropa forward Troy Rosario to his training pool, raising the total to 25 aspirants for berths in the national team gearing up for the upcoming SEABA Championship and the FIBA Asia Cup in Beirut in August.

Reyes made the announcement on his Twitter account. “After getting clearance from the TNT management and the PBA board, we are hereby adding Troy Rosario to the Gilas pool,” Reyes tweeted.

Rosario is the 13th PBA player added to the initial roster of Gilas cadets.

On Sunday, Reyes named June Mar Fajardo, Terrence Romeo, Jason Castro, Calvin Abueva, Japeth Aguilar, Paul Lee, Raymond Almazan, Norbert Torres, LA Revilla, Art dela Cruz, Jonathan Grey and Bradwyn Guinto – players picked from the 12 PBA ball clubs under the memorandum of agreement between the SBP and the PBA.

But SBP president Al Panlilio stressed the agreement is a work in progress, hinting at improving the makeup of the roster before the FIBA Asia Cup in Beirut in August.

Now, Rosario is rejoining TNT teammate Castro in the Gilas pool.

The former National U Bulldog, a 6-foot-7 forward who can shoot from afar, has had his previous stint with Gilas in the 2016 FIBA OQT, bumping off Abueva in the final roster.