MANILA, Philippines — Globalport guard Terrence Romeo has been shooting less and scoring more these days.
Romeo, criticized for his decision-making especially at the offensive end, has approached the game differently this Commissioner’s Cup being a year older and perhaps a season wiser in the PBA.
“Si Terrence talagang sa practice double effort compared to last season, compared to his last conferences. Laging maaga sa practice and ang daming extra work na ginagawa hindi lang sa shooting pati na din sa conditioning niya,” Globalport team manager Bonnie Tan said.
(Terrence has been doubling his effort in practices compared to last season, compared to his last conferences. He is always early for practice and puts on extra work not just on his shooting, but also on his conditioning.)
“Nagmamature na si Terrence kasi last season siyempre rookie year niya, nag-aadjust pa siya. Ngayon nakakasunod na siya sa instructions ng coaches. Slowly, he’s adjusting.”
(Terrence has become mature, compared to how he was during the last season, his rookie year, when he was still adjusting. Now, he follows the instructions of the coaches.)
Romeo said he’s been “more focused” and has concentrated on being more controlled and settled at the offensive end.
“Pinipilit ko lang makuha tira ko within the system,” Romeo said. “Dati kasi may times na kapag mainit ako, minsan kahit wala na sa play dinidiskarte ko sarili ko so ‘yun yung ini-improve ko ngayon, ‘yun ‘yung mina-maximize ko.”
(I am trying to make my shots within the system. Before, there would be times when I wax hot that I would keep on shooting even if it’s not part of the play; that is what I am working on now.)
The 22-year-old Romeo is averaging 21.3 points while shooting 45% from the field and a little over three rebounds and two assists per game through six games.
The former UAAP MVP had 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field in a 99-81 drubbing of Barako Bull on Wednesday to help the much-improved Batang Pier level their record to 3-3.
Romeo normed just 15.4 points per game last conference on 41% shooting. He said having a legitimate inside presence in import Calvin Warner makes the game easier.
“Ang nadadala niya sa amin nahahatak niya ‘yung depensa na bumaba sa amin kasi kailangan siyang tignan, kailangan siyang i-double so ‘yun ‘yung kagandahan,” Romeo explained. “Nagkakaroon kami ng chance para makatira, nagkakaroon kami ng instant offense kapag binagsak namin ‘yung bola sa kanya.”
(What he brings to the team is he pulls the opponents’ defense toward him as they must constantly guard him and double-team him. We get our chances to shoot and we also get a shot at instant offense when we push the ball to him.)
Having the leadership and guidance of veteran guard Denok Miranda, who was acquired by Globalport before the start of the Commissioner’s Cup primarily to be the team’s leader, has also molded Romeo into a better player.
Romeo tries to evade the defense of Meralco’s Mark Cardona. PHOTO BY: Nuki Sabio/ pba.inquirer.net
“Very vocal,” Romeo said of Miranda being a mentor to him. “Lagi niyang nakikita kung ano ‘yung dapat ko pang i-improve which is thankful ako. Lagi siyang nandyan para i-remind ako kasi sobrang tagal na ni kuya Denok sa PBA (He sees that things that I still have to improve on, and I am thankful for that. He’s there to remind me because he’s been in the PBA for a long time already).”
It also helps to have an unselfish teammate in rookie Stanley Pringle, whom Romeo referred to as a veteran with how he sees the game.
“Kay Stanley kasi nilalaro niya ‘yung tamang basketball kasi sobrang matured na niya eh which is ‘yung kailangan kong matutunan,” he said. “Para sakin si kuya Denok, pareho pa kaming FEU Tamaraw kasi sobrang may napatunayan na si kuya Denok, marami na siyang crucial games na nilaruan, Nakapag champion na siya.”
(Stanley’s been playing the right brand of basketball because he is already matured, and I need to learn that. Denok and I are both FEU Tamaraws, and he’s already proven himself—he’s played in crucial games and has even won the championship.)
And with open arms, Miranda, already in his 10th season, has accepted his role to become the leader of one of the youngest teams in the league and a mentor to his young teammates especially to Pringle and Romeo.
“Kinausap ako ng management na kaya ako kinuha dito to be a leader para madala ko ‘yung team, hindi lang sa scoring, kundi mapagaling din sila Stanley, Terrence,” said Miranda, who won a championship with the defunct Sta. Lucia franchise. “Siyempre sacrifice din ako kasi last conference, ako ‘yung number one option sa Barako Bull. Eh ngayon siyempre mahal ko ‘yung basketball, gusto kong tulungan ‘yung dalawa si Stan, si Terrence, para mas mapaganda ‘yung team namin, hindi lang ‘yung individual.
(The management talked to me that the reason they got me was to be the leader of this team not just in scoring, but also to make sure that Stanley and Terrence improve. It’s a sacrifice for me, because last conference, I was the number one option for Barako Bull. But because I love basketball, I want to help Stan and Terrence so our team improves, not just the individuals.)
Miranda, who averaged close to 13 points per game for Barako Bull last conference as one of the team’s go-to guys, said since he came to Globalport, he’s been teaching Romeo and Pringle on how to better read situations on the floor.
“Pinaguusapan kasi namin ‘yung spots kung saan siya tatanggap, ‘yung tamag tira, ‘yung tamang pull up kasi ang daming conferences na ang dami niyang tira, ang dami niyang forced shots,” Miranda said on the changes Romeo has made in his game. “Ngayon, nagkaroon kami ng inside presence, pinapasa na niya, tapos kinukuha na lang niya sa right spots.”
(We’ve been discussing which spots he should position himself in, making the right shot, the right pull up, because there were several conferences in which he would force his shots. Now that we have an inside presence, he would pass the ball and get it in the right spots.)
The 32-year-old Miranda, a third overall pick back in the 2005 Draft, added he’s just merely passing what he has learned from his veteran teammates before him such as former San Miguel Beer great Olsen Racela, Danny Ildefonso and Dennis Espino to name a few.
“Kasi ‘yun din na-experience ko dati nu’ng bata ako. Sinasabi ko rin sa kanila ngayon para mapadali yung basketball,” Miranda said.
(Since I experienced that during my youth, I would remind them now so that playing basketball will be easier (for all of us).)
“Nilalagay ko sa isip ko kung ano ‘yung role ko sa team ‘yun ‘yung gagawin ko. Kung ano ‘yung tingin ko na kailangan kong gawin para manalo ‘yun ‘yung gagawin ko,” Romeo told INQUIRER.net.
(I always put in my head my role in the team, and that’s what I do. I will do whatever it is I think is needed for the team to win.)
And so far, Romeo has been doing what Globalport wants him to do and the team’s steady improvement is a testament to it.
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