NZ coach Braswell gushes over Abueva, Romeo

PHOTO BY TRISTAN TAMAYO

Calvin Abueva and Terrence Romeo have been coined as the Bad Boy duo of Gilas Pilipinas and their new fan knows all too well of the duo’s exploits.

Kevin Braswell, the player-coach of the New Zealand Wellington Saints, said both Abueva and Romeo have the ability to change games and put the opposing team on their pace.

“I love Calvin,” Braswell gushed Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. “He changes games. His energy for his size, to be a great rebounder.”

Standing at 6-foot-3, Abueva is not the biggest mugger in the paint but the Kapampangan workhorse will still mug any seven-footer for a rebound.

“If he gets a defensive rebound, he pushes it.”

Braswell also noted Romeo’s explosiveness to the guard’s work ethic and pre-game rituals.

Just before Gilas Pilipinas took on Braswell’s Saints on Saturday, the player-coach saw Romeo going through dribbling drills similar to NBA MVP Stephen Curry’s.

“I watched him do these ball-handling drills, he puts in a lot of time and work in his game.”

Braswell, though, admitted he got pissed at his players when Romeo drilled back-to-back three-pointers in their Friday loss against Gilas.

“When Terrence hit those big shots, I got frustrated at my guys,” Braswell said who admitted he Romeo reminded him of himself.

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