Gilas Pilipinas took two rousing wins from the PBA’s best, yet it is still not enough, believes 2017 PBA All Star-Visayas Leg MVP Terrence Romeo
Romeo was his fiery self during the SEABA-bound Chooks Gilas Pilipinas’ rousing victory over the PBA Visayas All-Star selection Sunday night, but the 27-year-old shared to News 5’s Fraulein Olavario that his MVP-performance had been sheer luck.
“Naka-tsamba,” quipped the Globalport Batang Pier star after the SEABA XII’s 125-112 triumph over the Tim Cone-mentored All-Stars at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu — the third and final game of the 2017 PBA All-Star Week.
But Romeo’s numbers were evidently more than just luck with the way he lit up the scoring charts. He was Gilas’ anchor early in the game, responsible for 13 of his team’s 38 points in the second frame alone to erase a 15-point deficit.
From there, one of the league’s best scorers took off, finishing with 25 points on an efficient 8-of-13 shooting, with 4-of-6 coming from beyond the arc. He also displayed a bit of his passing skills as he added four dimes.
And the four-year veteran did it all despite the fact that he is still not a hundred percent, condition-wise.
“May doubt,” stressed the 6-foot gunslinger on still experiencing the effects of the typhoid fever he suffered two months ago. “Kasi ‘pag athlete ka, [at] alam mong ‘di ka 100 percent, laging may papasok sa isip mo na ‘di ka 100 percent makaka-perform.
“Pero awa naman ng Diyos, tinulungan Niya ‘ko. ‘Di Niya ‘ko pinabayaan. Naka-perform pa rin.”
The whole five-day stretch of the All-Star Week allowed Gilas to showcase its talent — both individually and collectively. But for Romeo, he believes that the team can do more than what they did in their three games against the finest pros.
“Alam ko meron pa kaming maipapakita. May ma-i-improve pa kami. So hindi kami puwedeng satisfied. Kailangan mas matuto pa kami kasi short nga yung preparations,” said the two-time scoring champion.
“Masaya naman. Pero ‘di pa rin sobrang satisfied kasi alam namin na each player sa’min, meron pang maipapakita.'”
Now that the festivities are done, and the real challenge that is the regional tourney comes nearer, Romeo has learned what he and the SEABA XII should do in order for them to accomplish their main objective — winning it all.
“Kailangan ‘di kami pumunta sa game na sobrang kumpiyansa. Pupunta kami sa game na prepared, ready to play, tapos wala kaming mamaliitin na team. Kailangan every second or every minute na nandoon kami sa court, kailangan maramdaman ng kalaban na mas desidido kaming manalo.
“‘Di rin magiging madali mga makakalaban namin eh, so kailangan focus kami,” Romeo stated.
