In 2018, a young Don Trollano made the sacrifice and gave up his spot on the national team to make room for NBA star Jordan Clarkson, who was eventually cleared to represent the Philippines at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.
A lot has changed since.
Clarkson went on to represent the Philippines in multiple FIBA tournaments, including the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila. Trollano, meanwhile, has carved out a name for himself as a bona fide PBA role-playing star, winning three championships with the San Miguel Beermen.
Clarkson also became the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year in 2021 before winning an NBA championship with the New York Knicks in 2026.
"Honored and blessed and excited at the same time," Trollano said on a pre-Games media call before hinting that his 2018 Gilas cut is still fresh in his mind.
"Last time did not push through. So, this is my first time.
"Last time, I was the youngest. Now, I think I'm the oldest in this group. So, it's an honor and a blessing."
Back then, Trollano was only 26 and practising alongside established PBA stars such as Christian Standhardinger, Stanley Pringle, James Yap, Chris Tiu and Gabe Norwood, among others.
The 34-year-old is now the oldest local player on a Gilas roster featuring Robert Bolick, Sedrick Barefield, Adrian Nocum, Jerrick Ahanmisi, RJ Abarrientos, Justine Baltazar, Justin Arana, Zavier Lucero, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Brandon Bates.
Justin Brownlee is still awaiting medical clearance to join the team as its 12th man.
The situation carries echoes of 2018, when Clarkson had to secure clearance from the Cleveland Cavaliers, his team at the time, as well as the NBA, before he could join Gilas in Jakarta.
After multiple back-and-forth discussions between the NBA and the Philippines, Clarkson was ultimately given the green light to play, mere days before the tournament started. Trollano, meanwhile, had to take a step back.
Eight years later, Trollano has grown into a leader for the national team.
"Being a leader, I have to remind the guys," Trollano said .
"That's probably my main role, since I'm older now and maybe a bit slower. I can't really run like I used to.
"So, really, it's about being a leader, just reminding the guys what's right and what needs to be done."
Trollano enters the Asian Games with plenty of momentum from his PBA campaign. In the Governors' Cup, he is San Miguel's leading local scorer, averaging 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.
The 6-foot-3 do-it-all forward is also one of the league's most reliable 3-point shooters, knocking down nearly 43% of his attempts from beyond the arc, a facet that Gilas teams have been longing for in international competitions.
Trollano is also the older-brother figure on a team filled with players eager to prove themselves and potentially earn a place in Tim Cone's main FIBA roster.
"I guess I'll just embrace being the older brother," Trollano said.
"They call me kuya, after all.
"Since I'm the oldest, I think I really need to embrace that role, as their leader and kuya."
As the defending Asian Games champions, the Philippines will enter the tournament with a target on its back after winning gold in 2023 to end a 60-year drought in men's basketball.
Trollano is expected to serve as a "Swiss Army knife" for Cone, who has relented on his usual triangle offense in favor of a faster-paced system for the tournament.
But Cone's objective remains unchanged, three years after that magical Asian Games run.
"It's a lot different coming in," he said on the pre-Games media call.
"Nobody had a lot of expectations for us in 2023, but now that we won it, the expectations are going to be stronger and bigger.
"We really want to make sure we get a medal and hopefully it's going to be a gold medal. That's what we are shooting for."
Gilas Pilipinas at the Asian Games
Gilas Pilipinas is drawn in Group C alongside Bahrain, Kazakhstan and China.
Fixtures
Sept. 11: Philippines vs. Bahrain
Sept. 12: Philippines vs. Kazakhstan
Sept. 14: Philippines vs. China
Tournament progression
Quarterfinals: Sept. 16
Semifinals: Sept. 18
Final: Sept. 20
