Terrence Romeo holds his shoulder after a collision with TNT’s Ryan Reyes. PBA IMAGES
CLARK FREEPORT — San Miguel Beer, the five-time Philippine Cup champion already reeling with the absence of its MVP, is the latest team to have a player decommissioned by injury, the Inquirer learned on Saturday.
Terrence Romeo, the Beermen’s hotshot guard, has been ruled out for bubble play following his collision with TNT’s Ryan Reyes during Friday night’s losing stand.
“Unfortunately Terrence will need eight to 10 weeks to heal,” SMB’s team manager Gee Abanilla told the Inquirer.
“Then (he will still) undergo [rehabilitation],” the official added. “He is going out of the bubble later (Saturday) to receive the best care possible for him.”
Romeo was one of the few bright spots for the Beermen’s 107-88 loss to pretournament favorites Tropang Giga. He already had 11 points, a rebound, and an assist before he was sent to the Medical City here in Clark, which is also part of the league’s multiple-site bubble setup.
Meanwhile, TNT guard Roger Pogoy remains on a day-to-day basis after hurting his ankle, according to Tropang Giga team manager Gabby Cui.
Pogoy sprained his ankle after a landing spot foul by San Miguel guard, Gelo Alolino.
The Gilas Pilipinas mainstay even posted a video clip of the foul late Friday night,
The foul triggered a verbal match between TNT’s active consultant Mark Dickel and SMB’s defensive ace Chris Ross.
Pogoy hurt his ankle again by himself late in the game, which led to him being carried off by his teammates.
Romeo’s exit marked the second time a player was delisted from a roster because of a season-ending injury. Alaska’s Kevin Racal suffered a complete knee ligament tear on Thursday, shutting him down for the duration of the tournament.
Minor incidents—worrisome, nonetheless—continue to pile up inside an environment where teams play a balancing act between staying in shape and sharp throughout a whirlwind schedule.
“It’s really tough for us. We have to figure things out and find ways to get back to the rhythm,” coach Leo Austria told the Inquirer over the phone.
It could be recalled that the Beermen came into the extraordinary tournament with an extraordinary handicap: June Mar Fajardo was left off the roster as he continues to rehabilitate his right shin bone.
However, Austria said there’s “no need to push the panic button just yet.”
“What we need to do is to focus for us to be able to find the right ways (in) regaining our [competitiveness]. Hopefully, we could again win games,” Austria said.
The Beermen, whose win in the league’s lone game in March was carried over into this compressed tournament, now have a 1-2 record. Their other loss came in the hands of the Rain or Shine ElastoPainters.