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NU's graduating big man Rosario savors championship win

Troy Rosario of NU celebrates after the Bulldogs beat the FEU Tamaraws in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 77 Finals at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on 15 October 2014. (Czeasar Dancel/NPPA Images)

As confetti rained down on them following a dominant 75-59 victory in their winner-take-all match against Far Eastern U for the UAAP Season 77 men’s basketball title, tears were also flowing unabashedly down the face of graduating National U forward Jeth Troy Rosario.

But nobody tried to console the lanky 6-foot-6 big man, who had all reasons to finally shed tears of joy, having overcome his personal battles against a spate of injuries on his first two seasons in the league and the even more daunting task of helping the Bulldogs shatter what previously looked like an unbreakable long title dry spell.

Although far from his sharp form in Game 2 when he led NU to an equally impressive 62-47 win last week, Rosario got a big helping hand from frontcourt partner, Alfred Aroga, fellow graduating forward Glenn Khobuntin and unheralded Kyle Neypes to repeat over FEU and eventually end the school’s 60-year long title drought.

“Ito ‘yung pinakamagandang nangyari sa buhay ko. This is the best moment of my life,” said Rosario, his voice cracking, clearly overwhelmed by emotion.

“Blessed ako kasi kung kailan last year pa, doon pa kami nag-champion,” added the Cagayan Valley native, who is reportedly set to suit up for the Hapee Fresh Fighters in the upcoming season of the PBA Developmental League.

What made their stunning championship ride sweeter, according to Rosario, was their improbable rise from the depths, initially having to defeat University of the East in their playoff match for the fourth and finals semis spot before completing a marvelous conquest of top-seeded Ateneo, which was armed with a twice-to-beat edge in their Final Four series.

Then in the finals, the Bulldogs were pushed again to the brink of elimination when they absorbed a 70-75 defeat against the Tamaraws last Oct. 4, the school’s return stint to the finals since 1970.

But NU, just like it has shown in its first three do-or-die matches, thrived again in a must-win situation in Game 2 last week, carving out a dominant 62-47 win when Rosario banged in game-highs of 19 points and 14 rebounds, nine of them from the offensive end.

“Sa tindi ng pinagdaanan namin, I think we really deserve this championship,” said the league's reigning Most Improved Player.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa mga suporta sa amin. Grabe lang talaga ‘yung naging suporta nila,” Rosario concluded.