NEVER the flashiest guy on the court, yet a decade into his pro career, Don Trollano is still as steady as ever.
And that steadiness turned him into a key contributor through three title runs with Rain or Shine and San Miguel.
The 33-year-old wing found the best way to mark his 10th year in the PBA with the Beermen's well-earned championship in the Season 49 Philippine Cup.
READ: SMB reclaims PBA Philippine Cup title, denies TNT a grand slam
This adds to the Trollano's trophies - one from the 2024 Commissioner’s Cup also with SMB and another from the same conference back in 2016 with the Elasto Painters, who drafted him a year earlier.
For the soft-spoken Trollano, those title runs were the toughest, but most fulfilling times in his career.
“Hardest part is always winning the championship, especially closing out the games. This time against TNT, we knew they were going to come out stronger, and they did, pero nag-relax kami kaya kami nahirapan,” he explained.
Still, they made it happen, and his ever-solid play was the perfect compliment to the series-long brilliance of Finals MVP Jericho Cruz and Best Player of the Conference June Mar Fajardo.
But would you believe he’s actually a little late to the party?
Trollano revealed he didn’t touch a ball until he was in fourth-year high school. And unlike most basketball players in the Philippines, as a kid, he never dreamt of playing the game professionally.
Don's GOAT
But then, he finally saw LeBron James on television - and he became a witness to greatness from then on.
“Late na ako nag-start mag-basketball. Hindi naman kasi ako interesado,” he shared with SPIN.ph.
"Until yung kaibigan ko, classmate ko dati, sinama ako manood ng NBA sa TV, nakita ko si LeBron, ayun, naengganyo na ako maglaro."
The 6-foot-3 versatile forward added that he was never athletic, nor exceptionally tall, growing up.
But now a decade as a pro, having called five teams—Rain or Shine, TNT, Blackwater, NLEX, and San Miguel—his home at some point, Trollano hopes to embody what 'The King' is doing when it comes to longevity.
“Yes, admirable talaga siya, until now, siya ang GOAT ko,” he said, expressing his take on the debate about the greatest of all time.
It may have taken him longer than usual to find the game, but Trollano, inspired by LeBron since Day 1, is undoubtedly here to stay.
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