Terrence Romeo moves on from aborted Gilas stint, eyes future call ups

FILE–Terrence Romeo during Gilas Pilipinas practice. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–San Miguel Beer playmaker Terrence Romeo has decided to stop wondering how a stint with Gilas Pilipinas in the Hangzhou Asian Games would have panned out.

“There’s a bit of regret, especially since we prepared—the four of us. That will always be the case. But for me, I am glad that we emerged as champions. I’m proud of our teammates because we sacrificed together, we practiced together,” he told reporters in Filipino during the PBA Media Day at One Esplanade in Pasay City.

“I’m disappointed that I wasn’t able to play. But that ends there. I know that some things are not meant to happen in certain moments. For me, what’s important is staying ready so that whenever the day (you get called up) comes, you’re good to go,” he said.

Romeo, his teammate Mo Tautuaa, Magnolia’s Calvin Abueva, and Phoenix’s Jason Perkins were Tim Cone and the then-management’s original picks for the Asian Games, but a lapse in names submitted to the event organizers caused confusion that led to the ineligibility of the four veterans.

Taking that quartet’s place were CJ Perez, Arvin Tolentino, Kevin Alas and Chris Ross.

“It would’ve been quite the comeback for me and Calvin. But I keep on putting in my mind that this is not the end,” said the crafty guard, who served various editions of Gilas Pilipinas in the past.

“We never know. Maybe in the next Gilas (campaign), we get called up again,” he added.

Romeo could do exactly just that with several Fiba events lined up for as early as the first quarter of next year.

The qualifying cycle for the next World Cup opens as early as Feb. 19, while the Olympic Qualifying Tournament is also set for July 2.

“I’ll make sure that I’ll be ready to compete for a spot and help out the Gilas program by then,” Romeo said.