
TNT forward Troy Rosario gamely took on the challenge set by comebacking head coach Chot Reyes prior to the 2021 Philippine Cup.
Rosario answered Reyes' call not to be the next Ranidel De Ocampo but to play his authentic game instead, and he proved it by capturing the Cignal Play-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week award for the period of July 26 to August 1.
The athletic 6-foot-7 forward came through with 14.0 points on an efficient 55 percent field goal shooting to go with 11.0 rebounds in the Tropang Giga's wins against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and the Phoenix Fuel Masters in their past two outings.
Rosario showed no signs of slowing down despite coming off a lengthy break due to the COVID-19 scare that rocked the team, towing TNT past RoS through his 13 points and 14 boards last Friday.
The Gilas Pilipinas veteran then put up 15 markers, including the dagger tip-in off Mikey Williams' miss, on top of eight rebounds in the Tropang Giga's come-from-behind triumph against the Fuel Masters two days later.
"Simple lang. I just told Troy in our team building and pre-season training camp that 'I don't need you to be the next Ranidel de Ocampo, I need you to be the first Troy Rosario. Show me who Troy Rosario is,'" said Reyes of his prized ward who is getting comparisons from TNT great and now deputy coach de Ocampo.
"I think that took a lot of weight off his shoulders. Sabi ko, 'Maglaro ka lang. I don't need you to be Ranidel. I need you to be Troy. I need you to be the best Troy Rosario,'" added the former national team tactician.
"Fortunately, he's responding so far with a couple of excellent games," added the five-time PBA Coach of the Year.
With Rosario's stellar efforts, the runner-up in last year's PH Cup bubble got off to a 3-0 start in the import-less conference, good for the No. 2 spot behind unbeaten leader Magnolia (4-0).
The pride of Cagayan seized the weekly honors given by scribes covering the PBA beat over Chris Newsome and Nard Pinto of Meralco, which also clinched two wins prior to the league's temporary suspension in accordance with the government's restrictions caused by the rising COVID-19 Delta variant cases.