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Trollano still happy for more "competitive" Gilas despite doing the "sacrifice"

Don Trollano, right, had to sacrifice his spot in the Final 12 for Jordan Clarkson. Niña Carezon (file photo)
By Ivan Saldajeno

BIÑAN--It was a whirlwind weekend for TNT guard Don Trollano.

Looming to make the Final 12 for Gilas in the Asian Games, Trollano suddenly found himself at the bubble when it was revealed that Jordan Clarkson was listed into the national team lineup.

Coach Yeng Guiao made some roster room for Clarkson and cut Trollano and Ricci Rivero from the pool on Friday night.


However, some drama ensued when the NBA initially did not give Clarkson, currently signed with Cleveland, the clearance to play or Gilas in the Asiad.


Suddenly, Trollano was enlisted anew to play for Gilas.

But seeing that Zhou Qi and Ding Yanyuhang, who are part of Houston and Dallas respectively, were listed to play for China, the SBP appealed Clarkson's case, and on Tuesday night, the NBA finally gave Clarkson the green light.


Once again--and this time with finality--Trollano has been left off the national team lineup.

Despite what Guiao called when he made the Final 12 announcement as a "sacrifice," Trollano stays positive.

"Masaya pa rin naman ako. At least, magiging competitive na yung laban at magkakaroon tayo ng mataas na tsansang manalo with Jordan Clarkson," Trollano told Dugout Philippines in a recent interview. "Alam naman natin ang kaya niyang gawin on the court."

Despite a short-lived stint in the national pool, the six-foot-three KaTropa learned a lot from Guiao, which he can bring when he goes back to PBA play assuming he leaves Jakarta early to join his fellow KaTropa in practice ahead of their Governors' Cup opener against the NLEX Road Warriors on Friday night in Antipolo.

"Yung patience ko sa laro, being mentally and physically tough, at saka mag-focus pa lalo ako," Trollano bared the things the lessons he got during the national team training.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno