Terrence Romeo clears air about injury

Globalport Batang Pier star guard Terrence Romeo wrote a long message on social media platform Instagram this Friday afternoon to explain why he was not able to fly with SMART Gilas Pilipinas to Japan last Tuesday.

Gusto ko lang po sagutin sa mga nag tatanong kung bakit hindi ako nakasama sa Gilas; injured po ako at kailangan ko mag pahinga at therapy. Gusto ko rin sabihin at ipaalam sainyo na wala pong makakapigil sakin sa pag lalaro para sa bayan maliban sa injury, at kay God. Alam po yan ng family ko at lahat ng taong nakakakilala sakin, malaki ang utang na loob ko sa ng Gilas dahil dito ako mas naging disiplinado at dito napabilis ang pag mamature ko sa basketball at dito rin na buo yung samahan namen, hindi lang bilang teammates kundi bilang mag kakaibigan, mag kakapatid at isang family na handang lumaban para sa isat isa. Ngayon mga brother hindi niyo man ako kasama lumaban dyan lagi kayo kasama sa mga dasal ko, yun lang muna maitutulong ko sa ngayon at kagaya ng sinabi ko kay Coach Chot nung nag paalam ako, hindi po ito yung huling pag kakataon na mag lalaro ako para sa bayan. Pag 100% na ako mag ta try out ulit ako at kung deserving parin ako by that time, buong PUSO parin ako na mag lalaro para sa bansa. Sa mga brothers ko, kuya at mga pre, alam ko napakahirap mag laro pag kalaban mo yung buong crowd. wala kayong ibang titingnan or papakinggan kundi ang coaches naten at kayong twelve na mag ti-teammates dahil kayo-kayo ang mag tutulungan(mag tulungan kayo),kumuha kayo ng lakas sa bawat isa at mag laro kayo para isat-isa higit sa lahat alay naten to sa lahat ng mga kababayan naten sumusuporta lalo na kay God???? Goodluck guys!! Enjoy the game!!! Missyou guys!! God bless!!

A post shared by Terrence Bill Romeo (@tbvrome07) on Nov 23, 2017 at 8:30pm PST

The prolific 5-foot-11 scorer confirmed through his post that he is currently nursing a right knee injury, confirming the news broken by Tiebreaker Times earlier this month through multiple sources close to him.

And that bum right knee, which he incurred back in the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup in Lebanon last August, is the very reason why he was not able to join his fellow flag-bearers in Japan, as he has to undergo rehabilitation.

“Gusto ko lang po sagutin sa mga nagtatanong kung bakit hindi ako nakasama sa Gilas: injured po ako at kailangan ko magpahinga at therapy,” read part of the 2015 FIBA Asia Champonship silver medalist’s post.

The two-time PBA scoring champion was expected to be the the SMART Gilas’ main gunner in the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers. The 25-year-old was spectacular in the Asia Cup, averaging 17.8 points per contest.

Despite this, Romeo still wished his brothers-at-arms nothing but the best, as their journey back to the world stage will start this Friday night against the Akatsuki Five of Japan at the Komazawa Gymnasium in Tokyo.

“Lagi kayo kasama sa mga dasal ko,” said Romeo. “Kumuha kayo ng lakas sa bawat isa at maglaro kayo para [sa] isa’t-isa. Higit sa lahat, alay natin ‘to sa lahat ng mga kababayan nating sumusuporta lalo na kay God.

“Good luck guys! Enjoy the game!”

And aside from clearing issues and sending well-wishes, Romeo assured that he will be back playing for flag and country as soon as he is all cleared.

“‘Pag 100% na ako magta-tryout ulit ako at kung deserving pa rin ako by that time, buong puso pa rin ako na maglalaro para sa bansa.”