MANILA, Philippines—Barangay Ginebra forward Troy Rosario on Friday revealed that he played through a quadriceps tear in Manila in what became his final game of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals, where the Gin Kings lost to San Miguel Beer, 101-88, and exited the title race.
Rosario said he experienced stress over the past 48 hours as he prepared for the knockout game while he dealt with the injury and uncertainty over its severity.
He said he underwent an MRI at St. Luke’s Medical Center the night before the game to determine the extent of the damage to his leg.
He said the initial MRI result appeared blurry, which prevented team doctors and staff from getting a clear reading before game day.
Coaches listed Rosario as available, and he saw action as part of Barangay Ginebra’s frontcourt rotation against San Miguel Beer.
He said the confirmation of the injury, combined with the stakes of the semifinal game, contributed to his mental and physical strain.
San Miguel Beer’s 101-88 victory eliminated Barangay Ginebra from contention in the PBA Philippine Cup and ended Rosario’s conference on the same night he learned the exact nature of his injury.
Team officials began coordinating with doctors after the game to plan Rosario’s treatment and recovery timeline following the diagnosis.