WEDNESDAY'S Game Two was easily Terrence Romeo's finest performance in a San Miguel jersey.
The former UAAP MVP out of Far Eastern University delivered a season-best 29 point-performance on a 6-of-8 shooting from deep in his side's tight 127-125 double-overtime squeaker over TNT in the 2019 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals.
It's quite a refreshing sight given the transition Romeo had to undergo this year.
Joining a loaded Beermen squad this season, the three-time Scoring Champion was asked to shun from his old one-man scoring ways and find his niche in this powerhouse crew.
"Whole time ko kasi sa San Miguel, never ako naglo-look to shoot kasi nga sa sobrang dami naming scorer, minsan titira lang ako pag may pagkakataon," he admitted.
But Romeo has no one else to thank for than the encouraging words of San Miguel sports director Alfrancis Chua, who implored him to rekindle his old fire after SMB suffered a humiliating 109-96 Game One defeat last Sunday.
"After ng Game One, kinausap ako ni boss Alfrancis. Sabi niya sa akin, hanapin ko daw ang scoring ko para pag na-collapse ang depensa sa akin, mas madali ako makaka-pasa," he said.
"Malaking pasalamat din kay boss Al."
Shoot, Romeo did as he was back to his old ankle-breaking self and spurring the Beermen's early assault as they mounted an early 17-point lead, 56-39.
Not even TNT's late rampage could cool off Romeo as his triple with 18.7 seconds remaining in regulation knotted the score at 106, which paved the way for the game to go to what would be its first extra period.
"Set talaga ang play na ball screen kami ni C-Mac (McCullough). Siguro medyo nalito yung dumedepensa kung mag-switch sila kay C-Mac," he said. "Nangyari naman. Buti nalibre ako at thank God sinamahan Niya yung tira ko."
The win helped San Miguel level the championship showdown to one game apiece, though Romeo believes that San Miguel still has ways to go if it wants to solve its tough TNT foe.
"Kailangan mag-stick kami kung paano kami lumamang. Ang laki na nung lamang namin eh, tapos nung TNT ang lumamang, sobrang hirap kami bumalik sa kanila," he said.
"Kailangan yung laro namin pag kami ang lumamang, ganoon din dapat ang laro namin hanggang dulo. Kailangan hanapin namin yung mga mismatch, kung saan kami magkakaroon ng madaling atake or saan kami pwede maka-score ng madali."
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