TERRENCE Romeo has been in the PBA long enough to know that if you give a hit, you should know how to take one.
That’s why the San Miguel guard played down his scuffle with Jhonard Clarito in the fourth quarter of the Beermen’s 127-122 win over Rain or Shine in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals.
READ SMB ends Rain or Shine's hot streak, books spot in Final Four
With three minutes gone by in the fourth quarter, Romeo committed a foul on Clarito, who looked like he retaliated with an elbow that the referees didn’t see, sparking the commotion.
“Matagal na ko sa liga. Ilang beses ko na na-encounter yung mga ganyan,” said the 31-year-old Romeo, who’s in his 10th year in the league. “Galing na din ako sa ganung position. Basta importante, manalo kami, yun ang goal. Yun ang focus namin.”
What happened in the game, stayed there as Romeo and Clarito greeted each other while leaving the Philsports Arena.
“Lahat naman ng ano sa game, heat of the game lang yang mga yan eh,” Romeo said. “Wala namang problema yan. Part talaga ng game yun. May mga ganung moments talaga. Ang importante, healthy natapos yung laro. Healthy kami, healthy pareho.”
Romeo has remained healthy after recovering from a bone bruise on his knee that kept him out early in the conference.
“Healthy na ng one-hundred percent, pero mayroon pa akong mas ibubuga. Syempre, ganun talaga. Timing lang, unti-unti.”
Good thing, he doesn’t have to carry most of the load anymore.
Against ROS, Romeo was one of six Beermen in double-digit scoring with 15 points on 7-of-14 shooting, on top of four assists, three boards, and one steal, without a turnover in 22 minutes off the bench.
“Sarap, sobrang sarap. Ang dali ng basketball. Ang dami kong magagaling na kasama. Kahit papaano, yung lalim namin, ma-maintain namin, hanggang finals – hopefully makalusot kami,” he said.
Boatwright fires up SMB
Romeo also feels replacement import Bennie Boatwright Jr. is the completing piece in SMB’s championship puzzle this conference.
“Sobrang laking factor sa amin si Bennie talaga. Si Bennie yung game-changer sa amin,” Romeo said of Boatwright, who exploded for 41 points on 17-of-28 shooting against the E-Painters.
“Mapapadali yung buhay mo kay Bennie, kasi kaya niya shumoot, nase-spread niya yung floor, sobrang taas ng percentage,” he added.
“Tulungan lang kami sa semis and I’m sure kaya namin.”
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