ANTIPOLO – Ivan Aska and Terrence Romeo were quick to bury the hatchet as the two were in the center of a heated argument during San Miguel’s eventual win over TNT in PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup action on Sunday night.
Both players downplayed the incident that took place during the fourth quarter, saying that it’s all part of two teammates’ competitive nature.
“We were just saying how we loved each other,” quipped the outgoing import after their 98-93 victory at the Ynares Center here. “We both made a mistake and I just told him, at the end of the day, let’s go finish this game.”
The league’s three-time scoring champion, on the other hand, said: “Meron lang misunderstanding sa play. Pero OK lang ‘yun, normal na magkaroon ng ganoong argument kasi pareho naming gusto ma-score e.”
Aska and Romeo were arguing on their way to the Beermen bench for a timeout with 7:26 left following a miscommunication on a play prior.
The shot clock was less than four seconds at that time and the flashy guard passed the ball out to his import before proceeding to get it back, but the latter did not hand it off as he tried to get past the defense of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
The ball went loose. Romeo didn’t have enough time to save the possession as Kib Montalbo picked it up, and then dished it to RHJ for an easy layup to give the Tropang Giga the 80-78 lead with 7:42 remaining.
“Nakita ko four seconds so ang tendency ko is mag-handoff sa kanya,” said Romeo. “Papunta ako sa kanya, and then pinakita niya sa akin yung bola.
“Akala ko iha-handoff. Pagkuha ko, hindi niya binigay kasi ife-fake handoff niya pala. So nagka-misunderstanding kami.”
Romeo got fouled moments later and SMB called for time, and that’s when he and Aska were seen talking to one another. But cooler heads eased the situation, and Aska was even seen shaking the hand of Romeo.
The former FEU star said that both of them had good intentions, although it didn’t lead to the desired outcome and became a TO instead.
“Pareho namang good decision kasi ako, ‘pag nahawakan ko ‘yun, catch-and-shoot ko na, kasi four seconds na lang. ‘Pag siya naman, kung ‘di kami nagkalituhan, baka pwedeng may layup din siya,” Romeo said.
“Pareho kaming good intentions. Medyo heated tingnan kasi naturnover, wala kaming nakuha. Other than that, wala. Normal sa basketball ‘yun.”
Romeo and Aska have nothing but love for each other. Both of them expressed mutual respect over the time they became teammates.
“Sabi ko nga kay Ivan pagkatapos, itong huddle namin, nag-thank you sa kanya for helping us … Kung nasaan kami sa pwesto namin ngayon, it’s because of Ivan,” said Romeo as San Miguel went 5-3 with their import.
“Since I met T, he’s a really good person,” said Aska.
“It was the heat of the game. Even off the court, I gave him a hug. I love him like a brother just for the time that he was my teammate. At the end of the day, it’s all love.”
