By Argie Paul Candare
Terrence Romeo scored 23 points, including a big jumper to crush Terrafirma Dyip’s last-period threat, 100-88, in the 2021 PBA Governors’ Cup on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the league’s final game this year.
The two-time scoring champ Romeo, who added four rebounds and three assists, has shown maturity as the team continued to miss the services of steady lead guard Chris Ross.
“Chris Ross might be on our next game, he’ll be with us and talagang nami-miss siya ng team, but (when) somebody’s out of the line-up, nag-step-up ‘yung mga players especially Terrence.
You can notice Terrence playing well, not as a scorer but as a point guard, ” said SMB coach Leo Austria of his 29-year-old playmaker carrying the role of the two-time DPOY Ross.
Romeo got the needed support from import Brandon Brown, who scored 23 markers, CJ Perez, who added 17 and June Mar Fajardo, who hit 11.After trailing by 23 points, 85-62, with 8:14 remaining in the fourth, the Dyip stormed with a 32-11 run to slice the deficit to six, 94-88
But a Romeo step-back jumper and Perez’s attacking shot practically nailed the game for the Beermen, who claimed their third straight win after starting the conference at 0-2.
“Kapag lumalamang kami ng malaki, there’s a tendency to relax and sometimes ginagamit ko ‘yung luxury to rotate some players. So, we have to fix this, ma-sustain namin ‘yung rotation because kapag nagkaroon ng changes, bumabagsak. That’s why I’m forced to let the core of the team to have much more playing time, especially we don’t have Chris Ross,” said Austria.
Going down the drain was Juami Tiongson’s 21 points, five rebounds as well as three assists for the Dyip, while hulking reinforcement Antonio Hester backed him up with 19 markers, seven boards and five dimes.
With the loss, the Johnedel Cardel-coached squad will take into the break a three-game skid after an OT comeback victory over Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.