Seven TNT KaTropa players declare they want Terrence Romeo out

TNT dealt away Terrence Romeo for two role players and a future draft pick of San Miguel Beer after management acted on other KaTropa’s requests to trade away the three-time PBA scoring champion.

Anthony Semerad and Brian Heruela, who have been playing behind the shadows of the multititled Beermen’s established stars, were given up by San Miguel together with its first round pick in 2021.

The deal, which has been forwarded to the Commissioner’s Office for approval of Willie Marcial, was reached Monday, a day after the 2019 Draft, as Ka-Tropa management deemed it best to release Romeo rather than risk jeopardizing chemistry in the team.

An Inquirer source, familiar with goings-on in the team but who spoke on the condition that he is not identified, bared that seven TNT players—some of the team’s biggest stars—have sought out management to petition Romeo’s removal.

“He (Romeo) ruined the chemistry in the team, from what we gathered,” the source said as he added that TNT welcomes Heruela and Semerad.

“It’s a pity because he is such a talented offensive player,” the source continued as the plan for Romeo, acquired from GlobalPort in a trade in April, to take over TNT when Jayson Castro retires will no longer happen.

“But you cannot allow just one player—no matter how talented—to destroy what you’ve built over the years.”

The source said Romeo has gotten into fights with teammates, even during practice sessions.

“He doesn’t want to be touched and goes after his teammates when this happens,” the source said of Romeo. “He wants everything to be centered on him, which cannot happen.”