CHICAGO - With the PBA Commissioner's Cup set to begin on November 27, unrestricted free agent Troy Rosario still hasn't made a decision on his next destination.
After Rosario shunned Blackwater's reported P900,000 a month offer including perks and bonuses for five years, other suitors have joined the pursuit for the coveted big man.
Following a meeting with the MVP Group hierarchy last October 4 at the PLDT offices in Makati, the former NU star has engaged in several telephone calls and text messaging with Converge.
READ: Converge bosses on Troy Rosario: 'He's our priority'
Per multiple sources, the FiberXers, unbridled in their desire to win a championship, placed Troy's value at P950,000 a month including bonuses for five years.
Surprisingly, TNT, which drafted the 6-foot-7, 218-pound power forward in 2015, made the least offer in "contract value," sources revealed,
SURPRISE TWIST.
It doesn't, however, mean the Tropang Giga are low-balling. They're banking on intangibles such as culture and winning tradition to lure back the prized asset who played for them from 2015 to 2022.
If and when a second meeting transpires, it is also likely for TNT to up the offer, a person familiar with the negotiations said.
Meanwhile, Rosario is relishing the courtship and due diligence process.
"Dun ko nararamdaman na may value pala ako. Yun din reason bakit ko in-explore ang free agency," he told me via text message.
"Halos lahat naman maganda ang offer," the one-time champion and four-time All-Star shared.
THAT LOVING FEELING.
"I really appreciate yung mga naka meeting ko kaya balak ko bago ako pumirma kung saan ko man gusto eh i-memessage ko sila para as a sign of respect din sa kanila," he added.
Troy, who just arrived from a three-day getaway in Bangkok, told me he is nearing a decision. He is just waiting for a highly-anticipated meeting "next week."
San Miguel Corp., the entity which wields the biggest stick, the bloc that can blow all other offers out of the water with its vaunted one-billion pero basketball operations budget.
Given Ginebra's dearth of big men, spate of injuries, and the fact that Japeth Aguilar is pushing 38, Rosario addresses so many of the Kings needs all at once.
Troy is just as valuable with the dazed Beermen where he can complement their crown jewel, June Mar Fajardo.
Dethroned by Ginebra last Sunday in this Governors' Cup, issues of age and lack of shooting outside of Marcio Lassiter, plagued coach Jorge Gallent's team, holes Rosario can fill.
But the rooting interest for fans is to see Troy to land in Converge and form an alliance with Justin Baltazar to make an independent team a true powerhouse.
What would Troy Rosario do?
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