TNT Tropang 5G’s Grand Slam aspirations are alive and well thanks to their eighth leading scorer. Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser put in the points, but he helped the Tropang 5G stave off elimination with key defensive stops on the Magnolia Hotshots’ Zavier Lucero. Lucero still got his points, but it was clear that Ganuelas-Rosser made him uncomfortable. 

With TNT having one of the deeper rosters in the PBA, Ganuelas-Rosser only needed to be ready for his moment. Yes, he’s more often than not figured into the Tropang 5G’s rotation, but he has had to fight for minutes and opportunities. Injuries to the likes of Jayson Castro and Rey Nambatac certainly opened things up for him, as other players slid into the backcourt and allowed Ganuelas-Rosser some extended time. And so far, his patience has been rewarded. 

Ganuelas-Rosser has made it harder for TNT head coach Chot Reyes to keep him off the court. Reyes can count on the likes of Calvin Oftana and RR Pogoy for scoring, but he gets some versatility from Ganuelas-Rosser. The first overall pick in the 2022 PBA Draft can bang bodies with some of the league’s giants, but he can also provide some size on defense against the likes of Lucero and William Navarro. 

Moreover, Ganuelas-Rosser is not one to demand the ball. The 30-year old could have been piling up stats with the Blackwater Bossing or the NLEX Road Warriors, but an opportunity with the Tropang 5G more often than not means chasing titles with some sacrifices. He’s more than happy to do so and he has gone through Reyes’ system without much complaints. Even at this point, he has already reaped the benefits of patiently waiting.  

Now, Ganuelas-Rosser and TNT live to fight for at least another game. The Hotshots will enter the winner-take-all game on Saturday much more prepared and will find a way to avoid foul trouble. However, the emergence of Ganuelas-Rosser and the persistent efforts of Oftana, Kelly Williams, and even Jordan Heading on the boards should keep Magnolia on their toes. 

When it comes to depth in the PBA, the likes of the San Miguel Beermen and the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings come to mind first. However, the TNT Tropang 5G are not one to be left behind, even if their depth has largely been in the backcourt. 

But now, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser has shown what he can do when put in the right situation. You’d rarely see Ganuelas-Rosser come up with 30-point games or even crack 20 points in more than a couple of games. However, the Filipino-American will always be counted upon to make the right play and do whatever is asked, because at the end of the day, he has bigger goals in mind than his own.