Trollano set for smooth transition

Don Trollano is expected to hit the ground running when he sees action for San Miguel Beer in the Commissioner's Cup of the Philippine Basketball Association.

Beermen team manager Gee Abanilla said Trollano will have an easy time adjusting to their system due to the presence of his former teammates in Rodney Brondial and Jericho Cruz as well his former coach Leo Austria.

The 31-year-old Trollano played with Brondial and Cruz at Adamson University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines with Austria as their coach.

Now, Brondial and Cruz are key stalwarts in the Beermen while Austria is serving as active consultant under head coach Jorge Gallent.

"We're expecting him to seamlessly fit into the system of our team knowing that his former college teammates are already playing here and his long-time coach is our active consultant," said Abanilla, who expects Trollano to suit up when they face Barangay Ginebra San Miguel on Sunday.

"I'm sure he won't have a hard time."

Taken in the second round of the 2015 Rookie Draft, Trollano had emerged from being a bench player into one of the league's premier gunners.

His biggest break came when he was acquired by Blackwater in 2019 in which he averaged 14.2 points and 8.5 rebounds in the bubble tournament, enough to land a roster spot at NLEX, which was then being mentored by the coach that drafted him – Yeng Guiao.

In the season-opening conference, Trollano posted 16.2 points and 5.4 rebounds for NLEX, making him a strong candidate for the Most Improved Player award.

But with Kevin Alas suffering a knee injury, the Road Warriors had to let him go in a bid to land a playmaker who can fill their huge void in the backcourt.

NLEX landed Robert Bolick from NorthPort in exchange for Trollano, who was then traded to San Miguel in exchange for Allyn Bulanadi, Jeepy Faundo and a second-round draft pick.

Abanilla believes that Trollano arrived at a perfect time, especially now that they are being riddled with injuries.

"With our injury woes, I think acquiring Trollano proved to be perfect," said Abanilla, who is missing the services of June Mar Fajardo, Vic Manuel, Terrence Romeo, Jeron Teng and Kyt Jimenez.