Jeth Troy Rosario, our Nationalian Pride, is an entrepreneur and a professional basketball player with seven PBA All-Star Player titles. He was a member of the national team, Gilas Pilipinas, from 2015 to 2021, and has won three gold medals in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

In 2009, he started his amateur career as a volleyball player for Palarong Pambansa representing Region 2. Shortly after, he decided to pursue his basketball interest. In 2010, he played for the Technological Institute of the Philippines (T.I.P), and in 2011, he transferred and played for National University (NU), where he continued his studies in Information Technology and later shifted to Commerce – Management program.

In 2012, he started his UAAP career with NU in the UAAP Season 75. Despite struggling with a slipped disc and knee injuries during his first two years with the team, the NU Bulldogs, then coached by Eric Altamirano, reached a final-four finish for two consecutive seasons prior to becoming the Season’s 77 Basketball Champions. In 2014, Rosario became the second-leading scorer and leading rebounder of the team. He also notched the Most Improved Player award.

Succeeding the sixty (60) year drought historic win of the NU Men’s Basketball Team back in 2014, Troy started his professional basketball career in 2015 as part of the national team, for Gilas Pilipinas—the same reason why he was not able to attend one of life’s most considered important event—his graduation ceremony.

Rosario admitted that his PBA calling was unpredictable since he was not picked on the first four rounds of the 2015 PBA draft. He was surprised when he was suddenly invited by Gilas Pilipinas for a try-out.  

“……Hindi ko alam, nag turn around yung ano [sitwasyon]. Biglang pinatawag ako sa Gilas, mag try-out. Actually, ako lang yung college player na pinag-try out nila…”

Eventually, his career kicked off after his Gilas stint and PBA drafts. His playing skills launched him to the pool of legendary PBA All-Star Players, where he was also included for seven consecutive times from 2015 to 2021. He was also awarded the PBA All-Star Most Valuable Player (MVP) for Gilas selection in 2017, held in Mindanao, and became part of the Mythical Team in 2019. During his time with the Talk ‘N Text (TNT) Tropang Texters, while also playing internationally for the national team, they competed in the SEA Games and won three (3) gold medals in the years 2015, 2017, and 2019, and one (1) silver medal in 2021, respectively.

Now, he owns several businesses and concurrently plays for the Blackwater Bossing. As early as he began his professional playing career in the PBA, he invested in farmland and food business. 

“Actually, nung nag-start ako nun sa PBA, talagang nag-[invest] talaga ako nun sa business, kasi yoon yung pinag-aralan ko e; talagang [nag] try [ako]…….”

He said that resilience and perseverance led him to where he is right now. 

“Yun nga, isa sa mga ano [core values] ng NU, ang pagiging resilient. Nag-start naman talaga ako hindi ganun ka well-off yung buhay namin; so talagang tiis, yung kung anong meron, make the most out of it. Tapos ano lang, konting tyaga lang.”

He also believes that resiliency parallels flexibility; life will require you to adapt to certain changes. Just like his transition from amateur to professional, he worked his way out to adapt to a new culture and court environment to achieve the things he has today in his basketball career, business, and family. 

Earlier this month, he marched in the recently concluded 116th Commencement Exercises of NU, held at SMX Convention Center, in Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City. Regardless of his accomplishments, he was eager to experience the graduation ceremony he missed eight years ago.

– John Alvis Guntan