ISMAEL Romero nearly led Meralco to a come-from-behind win during Wednesday’s group stage game in the EASL against the Ryukyu Golden Kings with his near-double-double effort.
Romero topscored for the Bolts with 24 points while also grabbing a team-high nine rebounds in their 79-88 defeat to the Golden Kings that ended the hosts' bid for a first-ever playoff appearance in the regional league.
READ Meralco confirms Romero is Nenad's choice for PBA import
Romero’s performance came weeks after he twice kicked Filipino player Nick Demusis of the Zamboanga Valientes while playing for Al Ahli Tripoli-Libya during the Dubai International Basketball Championship in late January.
Romero declined comment on the incident when asked by SPIN.ph for his side on the matter.
Furious Filipino basketball fans believe Romero should be banned from playing in the Philippines. Romero also faces getting his license as a professional basketball player revoked by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB).
On this night, however, Romero received cheers from the home fans at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
After the Bolts trailed by 20 points, Romero willed his team back then got the loudest cheer at the final 3:58 mark when he forced a turnover on one end then finished the offensive set with a dunk.
Romero also scored a lay-up to pull Meralco within five points, 84-79.
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