TERRENCE Romeo had to wait for the drum roll to end before he can hear his name being announced as the best player of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
Romeo could only close his eyes while being mobbed by his teammates after claiming the PBA Press Corps-Honda Finals Most Valuable Player, perhaps the biggest individual achievement of his career.
For many, it’s a long overdue recognition for Romeo, who has transformed from a go-to-scorer from his days with GlobalPort and TNT KaTropa into a player that has embraced San Miguel Beer’s winning culture.
“Para sa akin, pag-iniisip mo na paano manalo, mas makakalimutan mo na kailangan ikaw lagi ang bida. Ang importante manalo yung team,” Romeo said after SMB’s title-clinching 102-90 win Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Romeo averaged of 14.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists during the series. He had 29 points in SMB’s 127-125 double overtime win in Game 2 and had a hand in the 16-point comeback that resulted in a 99-94 victory in the pivotal Game 5.
The Press Corps also took into consideration the performances of June Mar Fajardo and Christian Standhardinger but it was Romeo who ended with the most number of votes.
His second championship and the Finals MVP have enabled Romeo to reap the rewards of the offseason trade that sent him from TNT to SMB last December.
Reports of a feud between Romeo and several TNT players surfaced prior to the deal that saw SMB unloading Brian Heruela and David Semerad, members of past Beermen title wins.
Romeo refused to feel vindicated over winning at the expense of his former team, opting instead to describe how difficult it was for SMB to beat a TNT side that almost steamrolled in the Finals behind the dominant performance of Best Import winner Terrence Jones.
“Wala akong hard feelings at sama ng loob sa TNT,” Romeo said. “Para sa akin, same thinking pa rin. Same pakiramdam pag iba kalaban.”
“Respeto sa TNT. Grabe yung pinakita nila sa series na ‘to, pati buong conference. Napakalaki ng respeto namin sa kanila.” he added.
