FROM being the youngest Gilas Pilipinas player in the Asian Games to being the oldest in this year's batch of national team members to the quadrennial meet.
That has been the journey of Don Trollano, who's set to make his Philippine team debut in the 20th edition of the Asiad in Nagoya, Japan next week.
READ: No more 'Don Clarkson' as Trollano makes most of shot at Asiad
He was supposed to be part of the 2018 squad to the Indonesia Asian Games, but was later relegated to the reserve list to give way for the entry of Fil-Am NBA guard Jordan Clarkson.
In Trollano's recollection, he was the youngest in that team handled by coach Yeng Guiao and finished a fighting fifth in the capital city of Bangkok.
Now that he's finally certain of playing for the defending men's basketball champion, the San Miguel wingman finds himself as the oldest in the 11-man roster of coach Tim Cone.
"Last time kasi naudlot, so this is my first time (Gilas)," he said. "Last time, ako yung pinakabata. Now, ako na yata yung pinakamatanda sa grupo na ito."
Trollano, now 34, said he's ready to embrace the role as the national team's elder statesman.
"Embrace ko na yung pagiging kuya kasi tinatawag nila akong kuya, e," he said of his teammates, whom he appeared with in a special presser on Thursday from Seoul, South Korea made possible by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
"Ako na yung pinakamatanda, so kailangan ko lang i-embrace yung role na yun, hindi lang bilang leader, pero kuya rin nila."
'Kuya Don' keeps up
Being the oldest player, however, also has its drawbacks, according to the former Adamson stalwart, especially in a team built on speed and quickness.
"Matanda na ako tsaka mabagal na siguro. Hindi na kayang tumakbo lagi," he said with that familiar laugh of his.
He added, "Pangpusoy na lang ako dito. Pangkumpleto sa pusoy."
But defending the men's title they claimed back in 2022 is certainly no laughing matter.
And retaining the basketball gold, which finally came after a 61-year-long wait, is certainly the ultimate goal of Gilas.
"Tayo ang defending champion, so for us, yun ang extra motivation: to defend the crown," he said.
Gilas is currently in South Korea to play two scheduled friendlies against the host country on Sept. 4 and 6.
The team will then fly straight to Nagoya, Japan on Sept. 7 for the Asiad.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
