Matt Ganuelas-Rosser a UFA again after refusing new TNT deal
Matt Ganuelas-Rosser a UFA again after refusing new TNT deal
MATT Ganuelas-Rosser is leaving TNT anew as an unrestricted free agent.
The Fil-Am guard took to Facebook on Thursday to thank the Tropang Giga in his second stint with the franchise where he first played in the PBA.
"Grateful for every moment with TNT, the highs and the lows because they taught me invaluable lessons," he said in his post. "Shoutout to my teammates and staff who made the journey worthwhile. On to the next chapter."
TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa confirmed Ganuelas-Rosser, 34, won’t be back with the Tropang Giga for Season 49.
"Yes, (he’s going). He didn’t accept our new offer," said Lastimosa.
This is the second time MGR exercised his right as a UFA after being a part of the 2014 rookie batch, selected fourth overall by the NLEX Road Warriors.
He initially refused an extension offered by the Terrafirma Dyip two years ago, eventually leading to his signing a two-year contract with TNT.
The 6-foot-4 wingman eventually won a championship with the Tropang Giga during the 2023 Governors’ Cup that featured former NBA player Rondae Hollis-Jefferson as import.
MGR's search for a new team
After being drafted by NLEX in 2014, he was immediately sent to TNT as part of a three-team trade that also involved NorthPort Batang Pier.
Ganuelas-Rosser then won his first PBA championship with the flagship franchise of the MVP Group during the 2015 Commissioner’s Cup.
Two years later, he was traded by the Tropang Giga to San Miguel for RR Garcia. With the Beermen, the Cal Poly Pomona product won four titles – two Commissioner’s and Philippine Cups each.
In 2021, MGR found himself on the move yet again as part of the five-for-one CJ Perez trade that landed him at Terrafirma.
He would assume a key role during his brief stint with the Dyip as part of coach Johnedel Cardel’s major rotation that also included Juami Tiongson, Rashawn McCarthy, Aldrech Ramos, Eric Camson, and Andreas Cahilig.
Despite the major minutes, however, Ganuelas-Rosser opted not to return to the Dyip and signed instead with TNT.
His departure from the Tropang Giga also ended a one-conference team-up between him and brother Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser.