Terrence Romeo FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Churning out at least 20 points a game for an undefeated squad, it’s hard not to put Terrence Romeo in the conversation for the most valuable player of the UAAP season 76 right now.
Even Romeo himself is aware of that.
“Oo (naisip ko na), nandun na eh,” Romeo said when asked whether bagging the MVP plum is on his mind after Far Eastern University’s 77-67 win over University of Santo Tomas Saturday.
But, like what he said the first time, that is not the glory he’s ultimately chasing this year.
“Hindi ko naisip (yung MVP) nung kakasimula, hindi,” Romeo said.
“Noong una sinabi ko na sa teammates ko na di na ’ko maghahangad ng kahit anong award eh. Basta manalo lang at mag-champion tayo. As long as makita yung improvement sa FEU masaya na ako.”
The Tamaraws are unscathed at 6-0 nearing the end of the first round, and Romeo’s impact in that clean stretch so far is inarguably tremendous.
His new-found unselfishness is reflected in striking ways, like making the extra pass even in clutch, even if it doesn’t get him the game-winning shot.
“Sa awa ng Diyos binigay naman yung ganitong sistema,” Romeo also said.
But Romeo is still the Tamaraws’ most lethal offensive threat, and he proved that against UST when he had 19 points, scoring three of FEU’s 11 triples.
He was called for an unsportsmanlike foul, though, on Ed Daquioag midway in the third quarter. Another call like such means suspension, which automatically strikes Romeo off the MVP running.
And since he’s already a frontrunner for the MVP award this season, Romeo figured it won’t hurt him if he stayed right on track.
“Sige, subukan ko susunod na mag-tiis para ’di ma-unsportsmanlike [foul],” Romeo said with a smile.