Prior to the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup Finals between the San Miguel Beermen and Magnolia Hotshots, Terrence Romeo quipped that he might actually hang up his basketball sneakers for good should he win even just one championship.
“Kung makukuha namin yun, kahit papano nakuha ko na yung pinaka-kulang para sa’kin. I mean, kulang na award para sa sarili ko,” the flamboyant San Miguel newcomer said back then.
“Tapos yun, baka mag-retire na ‘ko after.”
Weeks after that, Romeo has finally won himself a championship.
The Beermen came back from a 17-point third quarter deficit then showed indomitable character down the stretch to eke out a 72-71 victory in the winner-take-all Game Seven, Wednesday night at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Aside from giving Romeo his first-ever taste of gold, San Miguel additionally secured their unprecedented fifth consecutive Philippine Cup title. This batch of Beermen have also created a strong case as one of the best All-Filipino squads ever built.
Now, though, will Romeo hang it up?
“Hindi pa, hindi pa,” said the 27-year-old from Imus, who finished with four points, seven rebounds, three assists, and a steal in the 22 minutes and 47 seconds he played, including few minutes of action in the endgame.
“Siguro next championship, ‘pag nanalo ulit kami ng championship. ‘De, biro lang.'”
Romeo won’t call it quits yet, not now that he has experienced what it’s like winning a championship. He has never bagged a title in his entire career, from his high school and college days with FEU to the amateurs.
“Sobrang saya. ‘Di ko ma-express yung feeling pero sa lahat ng bagay, yung first talaga yung pinaka-masarap,” he said. “Ito yung first championship ko simula naging basketball player ako.
“Ito yung unang-una. Sa PBA ko pa nakuha.”
Still, the former three-time scoring champion wants more.
“Oo. Yun nga sinasabi ko kanina. ‘Pag nasarapan ka sa una, parang gugustuhin mo na subukan ulit eh. Masarap mag-champion kaya parang gusto kong ulit-ulitin,” said the six-year pro.
“Gagawin ko yung best ko para makatulong sa team.”
