Terrence Romeo had a slow start but it didn’t bar him from coming up with a strong finish for San Miguel Beer in the Philippine Basketball Association On Tour preseason tournament.
After being sidelined by various injuries for most part of last season, Romeo was part of the starting unit when the Beermen battled Phoenix Super LPG last Wednesday at the Ynares Center in Pasig City.
He nailed the Beermen’s first two points but turned the ball over three times and missed his next three shots in the first six minutes of play.
But Romeo, one of the league’s deadliest scorers, waxed hot and led the way for the Beermen with 27 points en route to a 101-106 victory over the Fuel Masters in this exhibition contest.
Romeo said he is still feeling his way around after being inactive for more than a year.
“I still lack some games because it’s been awhile since I last played longer like this in a competitive setup,” said Romeo, who played 38 minutes.
‘This is going to be big help.’
“If I’m not mistaken, it’s been almost two years since I played this long.”
“I was just trying to practice what are the things I can do while recuperating from an injury. I can only do limited things.”
A two-time PBA champion and a former member of the Gilas Pilipinas squad, Romeo is focused on getting his timing and rhythm back and he believes the ongoing preseason will help him return to tip-top condition.
“This is going to be big help,” Romeo said.
“My conditioning is back, but the games are much needed as it’s been awhile since I last played competitive basketball. What I need most is the way I think about the game, my timing, I just want it to be back.”
San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent said he is using the preseason to speed up Romeo’s return to peak form before the season starts in October.
So far, he likes what he is seeing.
“He’s good, but the start of the game, he had that over eagerness to perform,” Gallent said.
“I think this is his first game in a year, I think. He wasn’t in his rhythm yet, but coming in the second half, he was in rhythm and played the Terrence basketball that we all know.”
Gallent added that Romeo’s minutes will depend on how his body will perform.
“It depends on how his hamstring can endure it. I don’t want to force his old injury,” he said.
“His minutes will depend on how he communicates with me. I still don’t know the extent of his injury, but in this game, it looks good. I just hope it stays the same.”
