Terrence Romeo and Mac Tallo, two of the country’s most prolific scorers, on the same team?
It’s happening—and for good reason.
Fueled by their desire to carry the country’s tri-colors, Romeo and Tallo headline the Manila Melmac 3×3 squad, which will see action in the FIBA 3×3 Manila Challenger on Sept. 20–21 at Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque.
Despite the immense pressure of performing in front of a large Filipino hometown crowd, Romeo and his teammates remain unfazed.
“Kapag may expectation sa amin, that’s a good sign. Ibig sabihin, ang fans sa mga player na iyon, alam nila ang capabilities na kaya nilang gawin. Ako, si Mac, si Henry, si Abdul, we know what we can do,” said the flashy 5-foot-11 guard. “Alam namin na kaya namin na mag-compete and at the same time, excited kasi ako, personally, ang tagal ko na hindi nakapaglaro ng 3×3 so excited ako na makatulong sa team natin ngayon and ang main goal is to compete.
“So, expectations are always there, pero ang main goal namin is mag-compete and manalo. So, kahit saan namin tingnan, lahat ito, going to the game is okay, masarap pakinggan pero iyong main focus namin is iyong game itself, kung ano iyong gagawin namin,” he added.
(C) Melmac Sports
Romeo, making his return to 3×3 after a 10-year hiatus, and Tallo, the former No. 1 3×3 player in the Philippines, will be joined in the Chico Lanete-mentored quartet by Abdul Sawat and hulking 6-foot-10 big man Henry Iloka.
Romeo, a former Far Eastern University standout and UAAP MVP, previously led Manila West to a title triumph in the 2014 FIBA 3×3 World Tour Manila Masters.
Manila Melmac opens its campaign against China’s Chongming, a team led by Latvia’s top 3×3 player Karlis Lasmanis, at 2:40 p.m. on Saturday before facing Switzerland’s Lugano later that night at 6:20 p.m.
The equally fiery Tallo welcomed Romeo’s addition to the team.
“Sobrang saya kasi kumbaga parang isang threat, isang Mac Tallo iyong dumating. Sobrang daming weapons na ng team namin. May pagkakatiwalaan ka. Mas na-pressure ako kasi gusto ko lumevel up sa laro ni Terrence or more than that. So, iyon ang challenge sa akin ngayon,” Tallo said, drawing a hearty laugh from Romeo—a testament to their camaraderie.
“Sa tulong naman ni Terrence, tinutulungan niya ako mentally, physically, how to be prepared sa mga ganitong bagay. Natututo ako sa kanya para manalo.”
Romeo, meanwhile, expressed gratitude for the full support of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, led by executive director Erika Dy.
“Sobrang thankful ako kasi grabe iyong support nila, especially si ma’am ED. Ang laking boost sa kumpiyansa namin na alam namin na nandiyan sila sa likod namin no matter what,” he said.
“Pupunta kami sa game, malakas, mataas din ang kumpiyansa namin kasi maglalaro kami na ibibigay namin ang best namin and knowing na nandiyan iyong mga importanteng tao sa likod namin.”
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