PBA: Terrence Romeo faces minutes management after injury concerns

Terrence Romeo (right) in action vs Converge. —PBA IMAGES

San Miguel Beer may have to cut back on Terrence Romeo’s minutes as a precaution after the spitfire guard was forced to leave Sunday’s PBA On Tour game over concerns related to his previous injury.

Team manager Gee Abanilla, however, said he will leave it to the coaches to decide on that after Romeo left in the second quarter of the Beermen’s 113-111 overtime loss to the Converge FiberXers after complaining of tightness in his hamstring.

“I’m sure the coaches have this figured out,” Abanilla told the Inquirer on Monday when asked about the injury that forced Romeo to play just eight games during the 2022-23 season. “Firstly, we have to make sure that he is really good to go and fit to play again, then the coaches will have to decide on his minutes.”

Abanilla allayed fears of another setback in Romeo’s bid to get his old self back, pointing to the heavy minutes he’s getting during the exhibition series.

Before Sunday, Romeo appeared in four of San Miguel’s five On Tour games and logged 21.8 points in 35.3 minutes, in a move to help him get his rhythm back in preparation for the season-opener in October.

He had five points and five rebounds in 14 minutes before being subbed out for the final time of the first On Tour game that needed an extra period.

“It’s not that serious,” Abanilla said. “But PTs (physical therapists) decided it would be best to have him sit out the rest of the game.”

Romeo has been dealing with injuries over the last four seasons, namely a shoulder problem that prematurely ended his 2020 bubble campaign, a knee issue in 2021 and a nagging back that left him as a spectator during the Beermen’s run to the 2022 Philippine Cup title. INQ