San Miguel Beer’s Terrence Romeo.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Despite missing nearly half of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup and coming off the bench, San Miguel Beer’s spitfire ace Terrence Romeo has proven himself handy for the powerhouse club.
Romeo, a three-time scoring champion, has been averaging 14.3 points and 4.8 assists in about 18 minutes of action for the Beermen in six games after a return from a knee problem, serving the role of a spark plug.
A younger Romeo would’ve likely been irked with how he is being utilized. But after 10 seasons and multiple injuries that have tested his durability, the crafty guard is taking it by stride.
“It’s all about staying ready for me now,” he told the Inquirer on the heels of a 15-point performance that helped San Miguel dispose of Rain or Shine in their quarterfinal clash on Friday night.
“Whatever kind of minutes I’m given is OK with me since, you know, I’ve got lots of skilled teammates,” he went on.
San Miguel has loaded up on its backcourt in the past few seasons, adding the likes of Simon Enciso and Jericho Cruz to a roster that features Chris Ross and Marcio Lassiter. The Beermen also acquired depth in other positions, taking in Jeron Teng and Don Trollano, who can slide to the wings.
The crowding in the guard position, where star CJ Perez also spends time in, has allowed the Beermen to flaunt a different kind of weapon.
“Basketball has become easy. Our depth is helping us,” Romeo noted. “Hopefully, we can pull through.”
Romeo told the Inquirer about a year ago that he has been trying to strike a balance between his aggressive style and his aging body. But that personal campaign was cut short when San Miguel ran into the visiting Bay Area Dragons in the last edition of the Commissioner’s Cup.
So this year’s a return quest of sorts for Romeo, who is now 31. And he can stack up more to his six games when the Beermen battle defending champion Barangay Ginebra in a best-of-five PBA semifinal series beginning this Wednesday.