TAIPEI - Add NBA player Jordan Clarkson to the growing list of people left impressed by rising star Terrence Romeo in Gilas Pilipinas' stint in the 37th Jones Cup.
In a long talk with Gilas officials, Clarkson and his business manager Tim Fuller expressed admiration for the GlobalPort guard who has won over a new army of fans here with his impressive play in Gilas' two games, both of which the Lakers guard watched from the Philippine bench.
"He's an (Allen) Iverson," Clarkson told Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) vice-chairman Ricky Vargas and former PBA chairman Pato Gregorio.
[See Terrence Romeo wins new fans over in Jones Cup]
Asked by Vargas if Romeo should pass the ball more, Clarkson responded: 'No, don't do that. Let him play, allow him to do what he can do. Put him with people who can shoot and let him create."
But more than Romeo's dazzling play on the court, Clarkson, according to Vargas, is more impressed with the dedication and the countless hours the former FEU star spends working on his game in practice.
Clarkson, who has been here since Sunday joining Gilas in practices and games, told Vargas he was surprised Romeo didn't even greet him the first time they met in practice.
"He just entered the court, faced the wall, and practice," he told Vargas. "That's passion."
Gregorio added: "Some people looked at it as swagger, Clarkson saw it as focus."
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