“Iba talaga yung makapal ang mukha.”
That was how GlobalPort Batang Pier coach Franz Pumaren described Terrence Romeo after the superstar guard buried a clutch triple to lift their team to a 107-106 victory over the Alaska Aces in their Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup knockout game.
“You have to give credit to the guy,” added Pumaren. “He’s really willing to take the shot. That’s why he’s Terrence Romeo.”
Romeo finished the game with 26 points spiked by six triples to help Batang Pier secure the last playoff ticket and forge a duel with No.1 seed Barangay Ginebra in the quarterfinals.
And he stepped up when GlobalPort needed him the most: with just nine seconds left, he fired a tough triple over Kevin Racal to secure the victory.
Pumaren, who handled many big-time gunners during his UAAP coaching days at La Salle, said it was one of the gutsiest moves he has ever seen from a player.
“During that time, Ren-Ren Ritualo was willing to take the big shot. JVee Casio was willing to take that big shot also and even Mike Cortez,” Pumaren told InterAksyon. “Pero ibang level yung Terrence Romeo. It’s nice being cocky but he’s confident of himself.”
Before the conference started, Romeo suffered from typhoid fever which forced him to miss games. Pumaren said the spitfire guard isn’t in peak form yet.
“If you’re gonna compare his condition last conference, he’s almost there, around 85 to 90 percent,” Pumaren said. “But last conference, he really ripped everybody because he’s really in top shape.”