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Friday, March 29, 2024

Romeo gives Fajardo a run for his money

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TERRENCE Romeo receives the ball from teammate Billy Mamaril who inbounds the ball from the baseline.

Romeo dribbles almost casually until he reaches the midcourt line where a defender confronts him. He darts forward, dribbles past the three-point line and easily shoulders past his defender.

As Romeo nears the paint a second defender tries to block his way. Romeo hesitates, switches the ball to his off hand and then back again. A classic cross over move. Then with the second defender frozen, his long hair trailing in the wind, Romeo glides to the hoop to convert an unguarded  layup.

Yes the most exciting player in the league, who is virtually impossible to guard, scores again.

Not even three Mahindra Floodbuster defenders could slow down GlobalPort Batang Pier guard Terrence Romeo (7).

Romeo is playing so well that he leads the Philippine Basketball Association in both points scored (27 points per game) and assists (6.3 apg). He has earned 230 statistical points or an average of 37.5 which places him second in the chase for the Best Player of the Conference award.

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San Miguel Beer center June Mar Fajardo, winner of the past three PBA MVP awards, leads the standings with a 44.2 average SPs. He is second in points scored with 20.2 and is number one in rebounds with an average of 17.2. 

Romeo and Fajardo could not be more different from each other in appearance and style.

Romeo is a shade below six feet and relies on skill, speed and an unerring shooting hand to score points or issue assists to teammates.

San Miguel Beer center June Mar Fajardo (right) sizes up the defense of Meralco Bolts  counterpart Reynel Hugnatan (21).

Fajardo is all of six feet 10 inches who relies on size, length and power to carve a space inside and score near the basket. He also benefits from the sage strategy of SMB coach Leo Austria who surrounds Fajardo with deadly outside shooters to effectively discourage double teams inside the paint.

Fajardo, who has won four BPC awards the latest during the Philippine Cup last season, seems destined to win another. But he will have to contend with the rambunctious Romeo who is the most exciting, most electric performer the PBA has seen in years.

Romeo’s only handicap is the fact that the GlobalPort Batang Pier is doing so poorly despite his stellar play. In contrast San Miguel Beer leads the standings which added to the Won Game Bonus points for Fajardo.

Another beneficiary of San Miguel’s league-leading run is Alex Cabagnot who is third with an average 34.6 SPs (18.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.0 apg, 2.2 spg). Barangy Ginebra big man Japeth Aguilar is fourth with 33.2 SPs (20.0 spg, 8.5 rpg, 1.7 bpg).

San Miguel Beer guard Alex Cabagnot (center) dribbles past Meralco Bolts counterpart Chris ewsome (11).

Do-everything Mac Belo of Blackwater has an average 33.0 SPs (17.0 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.9 apg). The Far Eastern University product deservedly leads the race for the Rookie of the Year honor. He may want more than just the ROY award because at fifth place he is within reach of the BPC crown.

Former league MVP Arwind Santos is at sixth spot with 31.3 SPs. The veteran SMB forward averages 14.2 points and 7.0 rebounds while relying on his long, wiry arms to lead the league in blocks with 2.3 per game.

Despite playing just four games compared to at least six by other players Alaska Aces forward Calvin Abueva is at seventh place with 31.0 SPs on averages of 15.3 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 3.0 apg. Abueva is also averaging about 20 minutes of burn, maybe more than 10 minutes less per game than everybody else in the top 10.

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel big man Japeth Aguilar (25) fires a jumper over the blocking hand of Rain or Shine center Raymond Alamazan.

At eighth place is Jayson Castro of TNT Katropa. At ninth is Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters rookie Matthew Wright. Last season’s rookie of the year Chris Newsome of Meralco is at tenth. 

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