CHICAGO - The meeting, one of several that Troy Rosario will entertain as he navigates his rare unrestricted free agency status, took place around 1 p.m. this afternoon at the PLDT Building in Makati.
TNT is making an aggressive push to bring the 6-foot-7 center back to the place where his PBA career started in 2015 when the Tropang Giga picked Rosario as the second overall pick of the rookie draft.
READ Unrestricted free agent Troy Rosario to meet with TNT bosses
The MVP Group's top guns, Ricky Vargas and coach Chot Reyes, were in attendance. Manny V. Pangilinan also made a brief appearance.
The fact that "boss MVP" was there is a good omen for Troy.
When a super-busy billionaire shows up for a meeting where money is potentially being discussed, it usually means the PIN to the ATM card has already been provided.
DEAL OR NO DEAL.
Was a piece of paper with a dizzying number of zeroes slid across the table to impress Troy?
No one's talking, but from what Troy told me over the phone, no agreement was reached.
That doesn't mean one wouldn't be agreed on in the coming weeks considering that Vargas is arguably the most powerful man in the PBA, the closer of deals, MVP's most trusted executive who can create and vacate jobs.
Rosario, however, can't be swayed just yet. He needs to explore all his options, consult with his agent, and then make a decision that's best for him and his family.
Although he admitted feeling hurt when TNT traded him in 2022, the former NU star considers that episode "water under the bridge" that had been swept by the passage of time.
FORGIVE AND FORGET.
Troy now realizes the wisdom of why he was let go back then. "Down ako noon eh," he told me, admitting his performance on the court failed to meet expectations.
Playing for Blackwater turned out to be a saving grace, "a blessing in disguise."
"Nakapag-pahinga ako at naka-focus on my health," he said of the bone spurs on his knees that were discovered and subsequently treated.
Now healthy and more confident than ever, he has fulfilled the promise of his potential, morphing into a double-double threat night after night while helping the Bossing to a respectable 5-5 Governors' Cup finish.
And while today's "kumbaya" moment swung the doors wide open for TNT, Troy can still be lured by the SMC bloc which has an admitted one billion peso war chest for basketball operations.
Troy, 32, has three kids with two already in school. At some point, all will set foot in college.
Regardless of where he ends up signing with, Troy wants to make sure he and his wife don't have to worry about tuition fees.
"I want to take care of my family," he said.
That being said, which team will best take care of Troy Rosario?
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