HULKING Fil-Am big man Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser of TNT watched from the sidelines nursing an ACL injury as his team ruled the first two conferences of the last PBA season.
When he made his much-awaited return in the season-ending Philippine Cup, the Tropang 5G put themselves in a position to complete a rare Grand Slam—but it was simply not meant to be.
For the 6-foot-6 former No. 1 pick overall in the 2022 Draft, the San Miguel Beermen were the better team in the Big Dance they wrapped up 4-2 nearly two weeks ago.
But he surely relished his comeback and the fact that he provided a big lift for injury-plagued TNT.
“I worked so hard to come back. I was a spectator for two finals and then I was able to play a role in these finals, but it sucks that it wasn’t on the winning end,” Ganuelas-Rosser said. “But I’m still proud that I was able to come back and play. It was a tough series. I think we had moments in each game, honestly, where it could have gone either way.
“But they’re a good team. They’re seasoned, they’re poised, they have a lot of firepower. I think in the end, maybe their depth got to us a little bit. Hats off to them. They deserve it,” he added.
Ganuelas-Rosser, who was good for 12.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 1.3 assists—a stint he deemed that helped him a lot—thanks to his match-up with reigning eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo of SMB.
“He wears on you a lot. He’s a big guy, he’s mobile, he knows how to get to his spots very good. Hats off to June,” Ganuelas-Rosser said. “He made me a lot better player this series, going up against him. All respect to June.
“Everything that comes his way, it’s much deserved. Just (in Game 6), he was just too much for us.”
Ganuelas-Rosser, 31, was signed to a two-year contract extension by the Tropang 5G last week and he certainly cannot wait to win his first title in the pro league—something not farfetched when the likes of injured teammates Jayson Castro, Rey Nambatac, and JP Erram, heal and hit the hardwood anew in the 50th season set to come off the wraps in October.
“I think once we’re whole, once we’re all together, once we’re able to work together, it will be fun,” Ganuelas-Rosser said.
“I’m looking forward to it. It’s already feeling us, I already know it’s already feeling me. Just looking forward to it.”
