TERRENCE Romeo played in a Terrafirma uniform for the first time in his PBA career on Friday since he was traded to the Dyip by San Miguel during the offseason.
Romeo played for 13 minutes and 33 seconds, scored three points and dished out two assists in a 89-84 defeat to Magnolia in his first match since recovering from a calf injury he sustained while still playing for San Miguel.
Romeo said he took a cautious approach during his first outing since his last appearance with San Miguel in Game Six of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals last conference, before he got traded to Terrafirma in a blockbuster deal that also brought Vic Manuel to the Dyip for Juami Tiongson and Drei Cahilig.
“Masaya na nakabalik ulit,” said Romeo. “First time ko mag 5-on-5 siguro after more than one month or two months. Ito ‘yung first time na nag-limahan ako. Hindi pa ako nakakasabay ng practice namin. Pero masaya ako na nakabalik na ulit.”
“Hopefully, mas makatulong pa ako sa mga next games namin,” said Romeo.
Terrence reunion with Stanley Pringle
Although unhappy over the defeat, the 32-year-old Romeo said he was relieved to finally be back playing and happy to sharedthe court again with Stanley Pringle, a teammate early in his career at GlobalPort (now NorthPort).
Romeo and Pringle shared the court once again for the first time since Romeo was shipped from GlobalPort to TNT in 2018. Prior to that, Romeo and Pringle shared the Batang Pier backcourt from 2014 to 2018.
“Sobrang saya ng pakiramdam. Dati, nung GlobalPort days namin, marami kaming memories. Marami kaming mga pinanalong games. Marami kaming mga highlights na ginawa,” said Romeo.
“Ngayon, kami na ‘yung veterans sa liga. Nakakatuwa. Ready kami na makatulong sa rookies at sa mga bata naming teammates,” said Romeo.
Romeo and Pringle briefly played together during one stretch late in the third and early in the fourth quarter. Mostly though, Romeo and Pringle took turns in the Dyip backcourt.
Romeo doesn’t mind that he and Pringle were not together on the court for a longer time, saying he's still trying to get his form back.
“Diskarte din ni Coach Raymond. Siyempre, kailangan din na makuha ‘yung rhythm. Maganda rin nilalaro ni Stan. Eh ako, kinukuha ko pa ‘yung timing ko. ‘Yun na ‘yung first time na nag 5-on-5 ako. Pero masarap ‘yung pakiramdam kasi nafi-feel ko na uli ‘yung limahan,” said Romeo.
“Kasi itong game na ‘to, talagang sobrang… careful lang muna. ‘Yun ‘yung exact word na hindi ako gaano… dahan-dahan lang. Wala pa ‘yung mind ko kasi nag-iingat ako, ‘yung pakiramdam na feel mo okay ka na tapos biglang may mangyari.
"Ayokong may ganun na mangyari,” said Romeo.
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