It may be an understatement to describe Troy Rosario’s situation as the “right place at the right time”. 

Playing for the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings is a dream come true for Rosario, who cheered for the Gin Kings as a kid. What made the move much sweeter was how it came at a time when Ginebra needed him more than he needed them. 

The Gin Kings had a frontcourt that was neither complete nor getting any younger. The glaring holes would have made them an easy target and would have also put more undue stress on Justin Brownlee, who himself was on the latter end of his 30s. Thus, the addition of Rosario was critical and that was evident when Ginebra took on the San Miguel Beermen. 

Rosario’s perimeter game was critical in opening up the rest of his game and that of the Gin Kings. His 3-pointers were not just backbreakers; they created openings inside that he would utilize later on. The Beermen were clearly trying to cover everyone, but the former NU Bulldog, who finished the 93-81 Ginebra victory with 22 points and 10 rebounds,  snuck his way into the paint for easy baskets that had SMB scratching their heads.

With the way he played against San Miguel, it seemed as if Rosario was the perfect big man for Gin Kings head coach Tim Cone’s system. The four-time PBA All-Star could score from inside and extend his offense to behind the 3-point line, opening up chances for mismatches and opportunities for his teammates. His relentless effort on the boards was another trait Cone could rely on as it generated extra possessions that could wear down opponents and create second-chance points that could be critical in crunch-time situations. 

Ginebra could see its frontcourt inch closer to full strength with the return of Jamie Malonzo, and that should only bode well for Rosario. The UAAP and PBA champion has been able to thrive in the various roles he was put in and Cone’s system allows him to find his spots without making any major compromises. 

At 5-2, the Gin Kings are in position to contend for the 2024-2025 Honda PBA Commissioner’s Cup and the way Rosario has slowly but surely found his groove could prove critical to Ginebra’s hopes for a third title in five Commissioner’s Cup conferences. 

After all, this is a dream situation for Troy Rosario, who gave up other opportunities to tick this opportunity with the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings off his list. It took Rosario almost a decade before he could suit up for the team he rooted for in the stands, but the wait was clearly worth it for him and the Gin Kings.