TROY Rosario is about to turn into a ka-Barangay.
Sources told SPIN.ph on Friday that the PBA's most popular ballclub has won the battle for the coveted unrestricted free agent, adding a big piece to a frontline that looked inadequate in a loss to TNT in the last PBA Governors' Cup Finals.
READY Any chance free-agent Troy Rosario will land at Ginebra camp?
The move, once completed, brings Rosario to the team he rooted for since he was a kid.
“Troy, as what has been circulating before, dreams of playing for Ginebra since he was a kid. Hid father, his lolo, his uncles are all Ginebra diehards,” said the source close to the 32-year-old sweet shooting big man.
“So, between lucrative offers and a chance to play for his dream team, he chose the latter,” he added.
As of the moment, a source from inside the Ginebra camp revealed that Rosario and Ginebra bosses are just finalizing the final details of his new contract, said to be worth around P750,000 to P800,000 a month.
“Yung terms ng contract na lang, if five years ba o three years, yun na lang ang kulang then pirmahan na,” said the source from the Kings camp.
A member of the Rosario inner circle bared the signing may happen as early as Monday.
It will be recalled that after TNT Tropang Giga, Blackwater, Converge and teams from Korea and Japan tried to lure Rosario, it was the initiative of Ginebra superstar Scottie Thompson that made the big difference in the sweepstakes.
“While [SMC sports director and Ginebra governor] boss Al (Chua) was away, Scottie made the effort. And here we go,” said the Ginebra source. “All we can say is Ginebra fans should thank Scottie for making this happen.”
The nine-year PBA veteran formally declined TNT's offer on Wednesday while negotiations with Converge that lasted more than two weeks ceased on Friday, sources bared.
READ Converge bosses meet with Troy Rosario: 'He's our priority'
Rosario sent a letter of gratitude to the management of Converge for the offer, saying he "has a great respect for Converge and wish the team all the best in the upcoming season."
“But after careful consideration, I have decided to sign with a different team. I hope you understand and respect my decision,” was the gist of the message sent by Rosario to the management of Converge, according to sources.
Rosario's impending arrival will be a big boost to a Ginebra frontline that got so depleted following the trade of Christian Standhardinger to Terrafirma and the injury to Isaac Go that the Kings had to summon Joe Devance from retirement.
The 6-7 Rosario is now set to form a bigger and more nimble Ginebra frontline with Japeth Aguilar and Go, once he's healthy.
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