Rosario set for Gilas return under Cone

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AFTER fulfilling his childhood dream of playing for his favorite team, Ginebra big man Troy Rosario will likewise get the chance to make a comeback with Gilas Pilipinas.

The 6-foot-7 Rosario is set to be added to the national team training pool after Tim Cone’s roster fell prey to the injury bug.

Prized 7-foot-3 center Kai Sotto of the Koshigaya Alphas of the Japan B.League has been ruled out of the third window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers set for Aug. 5 to 17 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia due to an ACL injury that will keep him out for six months.

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Making matters worse for Gilas’ frontline, Kevin Quiambao reportedly will be sidelined for at least four weeks after going down with an ankle injury in his debut for the Goyang Sono Skygunners of the Korean Basketball League.

Rosario, 32, suited up for the Philippine five in the past under former Yeng Guiao and Chot Reyes.

Perfect with a 4-0 card in Group B of the qualifiers, the Filipino cagers have long bagged a slot in the tilt formerly known as the FIBA Asia Championship and ABC Championship.

Cone’s wards will take on Chinese Taipei and New Zealand when they travel on the road on Feb. 20 and Feb. 23, respectively.

Gilas whipped the Chinese 93-71 in June last year and stunned the Tall Blacks 93-89 last November.

Naturalized star Justin Brownlee spearheads Cone’s 14-man line-up that also has eight-time pro league MVP June Mar Fajardo, former MVP Scottie Thompson, Chris Newsome, CJ Perez, Calvin Oftana, Jamie Malonzo and overseas-based standouts Sotto, Quiambao, Dwight Ramos, Carl Tamayo and AJ Edu.

Japeth Aguilar and Mason Amos serve as reserves.

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