BRANDON Ganuelas-Rosser was eager to chip in for TNT in their do-or-die quarterfinals against Magnolia on Wednesday in the PBA 49th Season Philippine Cup.
After being handed a one-game suspension for an elbow to the face of Barangay Ginebra forward Troy Rosario last June 1, Ganuelas-Rosser sat out an 88-83 loss to Magnolia that left the Tropang 5G out of the Top Four picture.
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BGR said he was so bummed to miss a game, more so since he was already out for a year recovering from an ACL injury and had just come back.
“It was really tough,” said the Season 47 No. 1 draft pick in 2022. “I just got done sitting out for a whole year so now, I got to sit out again.”
“It’s a lesson learned. I let my emotions get the best of me that game. I just have to make sure I don’t do that again. When I’m on the court, I just want to help the team any way I can. I just have to be there on the court,” said Ganuelas-Rosser.
The 30-year-old was quick to atone. On Wednesday, he finished with 10 points, six rebounds, and three assists in the 89-88 victory over Magnolia that kept the Tropang 5G's hopes for a rare grand slam alive.
BGR also buried a key three-point shot down the stretch and, despite battling early foul trouble, played well enough on defense to deny Zavier Lucero a shot at a game-winner in the dying seconds with the help of RR Pogoy.
“One of our adjustments from when we played Magnolia earlier in the eliminations, they were just pushing us around and being a little more physical. When you’re trying to be more physical, fouls are going to happen.
"You just have to be smart and know when to use them. Down the stretch, I was able to just let things go and stuff like that and just play by possession,” said Ganuelas-Rosser.
Lucero has emerged as Magnolia's best player in this Philippine Cup, and BGR did his part in limiting him to 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field on Wednesday night - his second-lowest output in terms of attempts this conference.
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TNT needs that same effort come Saturday in the knockout duel.
“Whatever you can do to make him earn his buckets, make him earn his possessions,” said BGR of Lucero. “You’re not going to stop a player like that or that team the whole four quarters. Just making them earn it, being smart, picking possessions when to be aggressive, when to lay off, stuff like that.
“I know they're going to make adjustments. I know he’s going to come in and maybe try some new things, some new looks. Just have to be ready,” said Ganuelas-Rosser.
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