Aside from scoring, Romeo’s value off the bench for San Miguel includes providing stability
Terrence Romeo gives Beermen energy boost. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ
San Miguel has been on a tear in the 2024 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup, untouched over the course of six games in defending the tournament it has ruled with impunity over the last decade.
Much of that early success has been made possible by the Beermen’s outrageous depth, within it a now-healthy Terrence Romeo, whose contributions are not only coming through scoring, according to head coach Jorge Gallent.
“Whenever we are down and Marcio (Lassiter) wasn’t hitting shots, Terrence was there to take control of the game,” the Beermen coach told the Inquirer on the heels of 112-103 triumph over hapless Converge on Friday as Romeo delivered 18 points, three assists and a pair of steals coming off the bench at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Gallent also underscored the presence of Romeo, which translates into a boost in energy whenever San Miguel’s energy level dips. “He’s like Jericho (Cruz). They always provide for us,” he said.
As things stand, Romeo has been averaging 13.8 points and 3.7 assists, playing in all six games thus far. It’s a welcome development considering he missed five of the six Commissioner’s Cup Finals games against Magnolia due to a bum ankle.
He has been a potent spark plug for San Miguel, who also has Cruz, a proven prolific sixth man who won the PBA Press Corps’ Mr. Quality Minutes twice.
“We’re really glad to have a weapon like him,” Gallent said of Romeo.
A seven-time All Star and a three-time Scoring Champion, Romeo has since cozied up coming off the bench for the Beermen especially now that he is navigating his 11th season even at just 32 years old.
“Basketball has become easy,” Romeo told the Inquirer in a previous interview. “Our depth is helping us.”
Romeo’s durability, though, will be thoroughly tested from hereon as San Miguel has five more games left in its elimination schedule. They were playing dangerous NorthPort at press time.And a sustained play from the crafty guard certainly would make the Beermen even more formidable in a deep title-retention run. INQ
