Terrence Romeo has finally arrived.
The flamboyant combo guard – who’s about to enter his sixth PBA Season – attended his first practice with the San Miguel Beermen, Thursday at the Acropolis Gym in Libis, Quezon City.
Romeo was initially expected to report for practice on Wednesday, January 2, but it did not push through.
Team governor Robert Non introduced Romeo to the Beermen. He was warmly welcomed by his new team; the league’s winningest franchise is now his third home in his career.
The Beermen acquired Romeo back in December of 2018 through a deal with TNT KaTropa, where SMB shipped away David Semerad, Brian Heruela, and a future first-round draft pick.
Romeo’s arrival has only made San Miguel stronger on paper as he adds to their firepower, already fueled by Marcio Lassiter, Chris Ross, Alex Cabagnot, Arwind Santos, and June Mar Fajardo.
But it’s not just Romeo whom the Beermen welcomed this morning.
San Miguel Alab head coach Jimmy Alapag was in the facility as well, and he was later introduced by Non to the Beermen as the new assistant coach to chief tactician Leo Austria.
Non shared during the introduction that San Miguel has always wanted Alapag to come on board since 2002, or since the diminutive floor general was in the national team pool for the Asian Games.
Alapag has been under the San Miguel umbrella since 2018, when Alab was backed by the corporation early in the 8th ASEAN Basketball League as then-sponsor Tanduay backed out.
Alapag’s arrival to San Miguel makes things interesting, as he will be reunited with Kelly Nabong, whom he had a falling-out with back in 2017 when they were still with the Meralco Bolts.