Blackwater Bossing coach Jeff Cariaso acknowledged Troy Rosario exercised the opportunity he had to become an unrestricted free agent, but was proud of what the organization was able to offer.
"[I] only wish that he did choose Blackwater."
Blackwater Bossing coach Jeff Cariaso got honest about his thoughts with Troy Rosario's departure from the team after they were eliminated from the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup.
Rosario, a long-time member of the TNT Tropang Giga and a Gilas Pilipinas player before heading to Blackwater, became an unrestricted free agent.
[ALSO READ: PBA: Troy Rosario thanks Blackwater Bossing for patience, support in heartfelt message]
For head coach Jeff Cariaso, it was an understandable option to make.
"There's a lot I'd like to say about that. But you know, at the end of the day, it is his right to become a free agent. And he's truly taking advantage of this opportunity," Cariaso told One PH's Power & Play. "There's not a lot of player rules where players can take advantage of doing something different like moving on to another team. This is one time where where a player has an opportunity, and he's really exercising it."
However, Cariaso admitted he would still have wanted Rosario to stay.
"[I] only wish that he did choose Blackwater," he said.
The coach noted Blackwater owner Dioceldo Sy and team governor Silliman Sy gave Rosario an offer "that's really competitive."
"I was really happy that we were at least able to offer that. So I tip my hat to Boss Dioceldo, Boss Silliman for the effort and the time spent to try to keep him on our team."
During the Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup, Rosario averaged 10 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. He elevated his game further during the Philippine Cup, posting impressive numbers of 17.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game.
His performance was exclamated by a season-high 33-point explosion against the NorthPort Batang Pier.
In the Season 49 Governors' Cup, he averaged 13.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. Blackwater finished the group stage with a 5-5 record but missed the playoffs by just one win.
When asked about his view about the PBA's free agency rule, Cariaso hoped things would be more clear.
"I don't mind the free agency rule. I think that's something that was implemented and thought out well by the PBA," he started. "But I think just everything else in the process I think needs to be better."
"I don't want to mention too many things, but I think my comment is just the process of contracts, possibly UPC, I think that needs to be more clear. Because our understanding at Blackwater, at the start of all this, was totally different from how it ended," Cariaso said, noting how they lost the All-Star and Gilas Pilipinas player that the coach vowed he was going to build the team around.
"I just wish just that whole process of how things work with contracts, UPCs, I think that needs to be a little bit more clear and a little bit more strict in how you process it, just so that there's no loopholes."
Cariaso said he's looking forward now to the Commissioner's Cup, with the return of George King, the potential of Sedrick Barefield, as well as more time for players like Richard Escoto, Justin Chua, Jewel Ponferada, and Clifford Jopia.
"At the end of the day, people will always say we had our chances and we did. We did and when we offered and gave the best that we could," he emphasized.
"Maybe we can be on the other end and be the recipient of a free agent in the future."