Romeo has no regrets despite Globalport’s quarterfinals meltdown

MANILA, Philippines – They were much closer this time, but they still could not get over the hump.

The Globalport Batang Pier, despite owning a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals for the first time in franchise history, suffered a meltdown and was ousted by defending champions Star Hotshots in the 2015 PBA Governors’ Cup.

It was another memorable failure for the team’s young history as they failed to get past the first round once again even if they had one foot in this time around. But despite the disappointment and the bitter end to their season, primary guard Terrence Romeo has no regrets.

“Yun yung pinaka inisip ko before ng playoffs, before ng quarterfinals, na lalaruin ko yung dalawang game namin na may twice-to-beat advantage kami na after ko maglaro wala akong pagsisisihan,” he said, accepting the Batang Pier’s fate on Sunday, June 28.

(That’s what I was training my mind to think before the quarterfinals, that I will play these two games with the twice-to-beat advantage and after I play I won’t have any regrets.)

This season’s PBA All-Star MVP and the team’s leading local scorer this conference was expected to carry Globalport to a place they’ve never set foot before – the semifinals. But his shooting stroke was nowhere to be found as the defense collapsed on him as well.

“Sa tingin ko yun lang yung kaya ko ibigay sa ngayon e,” the 23-year old former UAAP MVP acknowledged his shortcomings. “Yun lang yung alam ko sa ngayon.” (I think that’s all I could give right now. That’s all I know for now.)

Romeo had just 15 points on Sunday night on a miserable 5-of-21 field goal shooting. He also went 4-of-13 from long range and added 9 rebounds, 4 assists and two steals in his last game as a sophomore.

Romeo normed just 16.5 points in the quarterfinals with 18 points in a 53-point massacre from the Hotshots in their first game. And in Globalport’s last elimination game against Alaska, Romeo had just 14 markers.

However, the experience and the lessons learned in these playoffs far outweigh the numbers for Romeo.

“Natutunan ko kung paano maglaro na kahit nasa crucial moment ka na kailangan composed ka pa rin tapos kailangan lahat kayo one page,” he shared his takeaway from playing a Grand Slam team like the Star Hotshots. “Hindi pa siguro namin natututunan na [nasa iisang] page kami sa lahat ng pagkakataon, sa lahat ng possessions.”

(I learned how to play at a crucial moment, you still have to be composed and all of us should be on the same page. We probably have not yet learned how to be on the same page at all times, in every possession.)

If he could have his way, Romeo admitted he’d choose for the core of this Globalport team to stay intact for next season. He hopes they will develop a kind of chemistry similar to the Hotshots.

Personally, he is eager to see what heights he can reach come his third year.

“Siyempre hindi naman lahat natatapos doon,” he said. “May time mag-improve. Hindi mo pwedeng limitahan yung tao na gusto pang matuto tsaka gusto pang gumaling. Second year ko pa lang, alam ko mas may kaya pa akong maabot.”

(Of course it doesn’t end there. There’s time to improve. You can’t limit a person who wants to learn and who wants to be better. It’s only my second year, I know I can achieve far greater things.) – Rappler.com