Far from high-scoring exploits, Terrence Romeo just focused on winning

MANILA, Philippine–San Miguel Beer guard Terrence Romeo’s highest output in this ongoing PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs is 12 points against their semifinal foe Rain or Shine.

That is too low for his typical scoring standards.

But Romeo, a many-time PBA scoring champion and a primary option for production all his career, doesn’t mind it one bit.

“I don’t mind it at all,” he told Inquirer on Friday night in Filipino, shortly after finishing just two points—but one that the Beermen needed to peel away from the Painters in the final minute of Game 4 en route to a clash against TNT in the Finals.

READ: San Miguel ousts Rain or Shine, sets up PBA finals showdown vs TNT

“That’s the most important for me—winning. Whatever my stats are, it doesn’t really matter anymore,” he said. “I’ve experienced scoring in bunches, become a scoring champion myself but I can barely count the ones the fun times within those moments.”

“What matters now is that all of us in the team are happy,” he added.

Romeo, who had only one try in the first 20 minutes he was on the floor, launched for a deep two that gave San Miguel a bit of a breathing room in the final 1:14 of the contest versus a Rain or Shine squad that had overwhelmed them early twice in their series.

“I think the key this time was that we learned our lessons well. We saw our shortcomings in our slow starts and we chose not to play to their pace tonight,” he added. “We made sure we got the stops, the rebounds and executed our plays well.”

Romeo, who was shipped to San Miguel in a preseason trade during the off-season, has embraced a diminished role with a team that flaunts a bevy cast of stars. He won’t mind doing it all over again, especially as he braces to play the team that dealt him away.

“There’s no color to it, though,” he assured. “I’m just out here to do my best to help this team.”

“They’re going to be tough to play, so we have to focus, we have to come up with a sound gameplan for them. It won’t be easy because any given night, someone from their locals can just erupt.”

Romeo’s biggest concern as he guns for his second title and helps the Beermen in their bid for the second jewel in their Triple Crown bid is learning from their close shaves.

“We can’t afford to be buried early,” he said of the race-to-four series which opens this Sunday at the Big Dome. “They’re too organized a team.”

“We’ll just have to prepare well.”