BAFFLED as he may be with the way things suddenly turned for the worse for GlobalPort, Terrence Romeo believes the Batang Pier still have a glimmer of hope in their Smart Bro-PBA Philippine Cup semifinal playoff against Alaska.
Romeo again showed the way for the team in scoring with 24 points, but the Batang Pier lost for the third straight time, 109-84, to trail the Aces in the best-of-seven showdown, 3-1.
“Positive pa rin kami na kaya naming maka-bounce back,” said the Globalport gunner, who was 9-for-21 from the field in Game Four.
Globalport stunned a veteran-laden Alaska side in the series opener, 107-93, to mark its debut in the playoffs, but it has all been downhill from there.
Less than a week after, the franchise suddenly found itself teetering on the verge of elimination, with Game Five of the series to be played on Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Romeo, the former UAAP MVP from Far Eastern University, credited the vaunted Alaska defense for changing the complexion of the series.
“Apat na tao ‘yung nilalagay nila sa akin, paiba-iba,” acknowledged the Globalport star, whose average went down to 25.5 points after going 37.5 per outing during the first two games of the semis.
“Actually, hindi lang sa akin, pati sa ibang teammates ko rin,” he added. “Mahirap, di kami maka-connect ng shots namin.”
Romeo knows beating a playoff-tested Alaska side three straight times to make the finals is like going through the eye of the needle.
But at the same time, he pointed out that doing the impossible begins with believing in one’s self.
“Basta positive pa rin na makaka-bounce back kami,” Romeo repeated.