TERRENCE Romeo may be giving up a lot in heft and height against 6-foot-8 Qatari Mohd Yousuf Mohammed, but the Manila West shooting guard refused to back down during the Fiba 3x3 World Tour Manila Masters at the SM Megamall Saturday.
The GlobalPort shooting guard out of Far Eastern University was shoved by Mohammed during the two team’s preliminary game, and Romeo, a full head shorter, did not take it sitting down.
Teammate Nino Canaleta as well as the other Qatar players intervened to keep the two apart. Mohammed was eventually slapped with a technical foul for the shoving incident.
“Siguro mas sobrang physical nung laban namin especially dun sa Qatar (Doha team). Eh, malalaki na sila tapos grabe pa binibitawan nila,” Romeo told Spin.ph shortly after Manila West dropped a close 21-17 loss to Doha in a game that saw the Filipinos give up 13 team fouls, resulting in the Qataris shooting crucial free throws in the end.
Romeo said the physicality was nothing new to him anymore, having already spent a season in the PBA.
However, Romeo said he hopes the Qataris will play it clean.
“Siyempre, iba na yun kung sobra na ginagawa nila (Qataris) kasi kung basketball, basketball lang. Kung suntukan, suntukan. Pero wala akong paki dun (Mohammed), bahala siya sa buhay niya,” he said.
Manila West, which finished the preliminary round with an even 1-1 record, faces Pool C leader Auckland on Sunday at the start of the quarterfinal round.
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