Most Improved Player winner Troy Rosario looks to disrupt Carl Cruz in this play. Ivan Saldajeno |
By Ivan Saldajeno
A very determined Troy Rosario entered the Smart Araneta Coliseum to turn up the lights in Game 2 of the UAAP Finals as he told Dugout Philippines.
"Pagdating pa lang sa venue, determined na ako," said Rosario, who earlier in the day won the Most Improved Player award.
"Bonus na lang yung nakuha ko yung award," he added after he led the NU Bulldogs to the win against the FEU Tamaraws that forced the deciding Game 3 on Wednesday.
(Related Story: Bulldogs equalize final series versus Tamaraws)
(Related Story: Bulldogs equalize final series versus Tamaraws)
The 6-7 forward scored nine of his 19 points in the first quarter, where the Bulldogs began the bludgeoning of the Tamaraws, and grabbed nine offensive rebounds and 14 overall.
"Gusto ko lang makatulong sa team," Rosario said a number of times during the post-game press conference, stressing his role for the team.
He also stressed how his teammates put their trust on him and even said that the Most Improved Player award was impossible for him to achieve if not for them.
"Nagtitiwala yung mga teammates ko sa akin, so binabalik ko yung tiwala na binibigay nila sa akin. Personally, hindi ko yung makukuha kung hindi dahil sa kanila," Troy continued.
Asked about his reaction after winning it, Rosario said, "Masaya ako, kasi alam ko namang pinagtrabahuan ko ito."
He vowed that he will improve more on his decision-making in the future.