Sharon Cuneta (left) with Mark Barroca
In our basketball-crazy country, professional cagers are mobbed just like movie stars. There’s a thin line between show biz and PBA (Philippine Basketball Association). Some players end up marrying show biz personalities. Many PBA seasons ago, I was a player’s wife until my ex-hubby and I changed courts. And some retired ballers have turned into actors.
Since the victory of Gilas Pilipinas in the final window of the Fiba World Cup Qualifiers is the talk of the town, I thought of featuring two players from our national team, Troy Rosario and Mark Barroca.
Gilas has clinched a much-coveted slot in the 2019 World Cup, which will be held in China in September.
Congrats for clobbering Qatar and Kazakhstan (“Nakatay ang Qatar; nasaktan ang Kazakhstan”). Pinoy Pride reigns. Gilas is truly world-class. Hoop, hoop, hooray.
Here’s my chat with Troy (T) and Mark (M):
Who’s your fave Filipino actor and what’s your fave local movie?
T: Bea Alonzo, Angel Locsin and John Lloyd Cruz. The movie: “One More Chance.”
M: Sarah Geronimo and John Lloyd Cruz and all of their movies.
What’s the best and toughest part of being a Gilas player?
T: The priceless feeling of representing the country—the pride and glory. The toughest is to be away from my family, adjustments to the weather and time zone.
M: It feels great to represent the country. It’s a different kind of fulfillment when we have accomplished our mission to win games. The pressure to win for the country is tough. All eyes are on the national team, so we can’t let our kababayan down.
What was your most memorable experience in Qatar and Kazakhstan?
T: Bonding with the team during our bus rides and meals. I got to know all of my Gilas brothers more.
M: The all-out support of Pinoys there. It made us less homesick. The friendship and brotherhood that were solidified with my teammates.
Troy Rosario with NBA superstar Stephen Curry
How did Gilas handle the “shabby” treatment in Kazakhstan, where they made you feel unwelcome?
T: We didn’t let it get the better of us. We just went with the flow and focused on our goal.
M: We refused to entertain negative thoughts, since we had a crucial game the next day.
How do you handle victory and defeat?
T: For every victory, I pray and give thanks to the Lord. If it’s defeat, I still thank God for the experience and the lessons learned.
M: In defeat, I get sad for a while. But I move on right away so as not to dampen my spirits for the next games. In victory, I celebrate a bit, but I don’t let it get to my head. I keep finding ways to improve myself.
What’s your advice to PBA rookies?
T: Work hard. You’ve got a long way to go. Stay grounded.
M: Never stop improving. Be coachable and disciplined.
Aside from basketball, what else are you good at?
T: Math
M: Track and field, swimming
What excites and scares you about playing in the Fiba World Cup?
T: I’m excited to compete with the best players in the world. It will be a life-changing experience. The thought of not playing well while representing the country scares me. All players have “off nights” when the breaks are not going our way, no matter how hard we try. But I won’t let my fear stop me from giving my all.
M: I’m excited to learn from the best of the best. I will feed off their energy. I’m too excited to be scared.