Troy Rosario said there is still pain whenever he lands his right foot but felt the need to soldier on to help the Ginebra Gin Kings in the PBA Finals.
Troy Rosario admitted that he played through pain in Ginebra’s 89-95 setback to TNT in Game 1 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals Friday, March 14.
Rosario said he was still recuperating from the ankle injury he sustained in Game 5 of the Gin Kings' semifinal series against NorthPort.
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“Lumobo ang ankle ko kanina dahil doon sa ankle sprain. Medyo naitawid lang dahil sa pain reliever,” Rosario said after the match at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
After incurring the injury last March 7, the tireless forward spent the next days getting rehab before joining the team in practice just a day before the opener.
While painkillers helped ease the pain, Rosario can be seen getting his ankle treated during timeouts in Game 1.
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Rosario said he could not afford to skip the match knowing he could still contribute to the team even on practically one leg.
“Finals na, eh. Kailangan nang tiisin. Siyempre 'yung minutes ko, importante rin sa team. Kumbaga, kasama na ako sa rotation, so 'pag nawala ako, malaking [kawalan] din sa team,” said the former UAAP champion with National University.
“So ako, kaya namang tiisin, maglalaro pa rin ako. Medyo pigil lang 'yong galaw pero, at least, nasa loob.”
Rosario looks to do more when Ginebra and TNT collide anew in Game 2 rolls on Sunday, March 16, at the same venue.