SAN MIGUEL Beer guard Terrence Romeo is thrilled to be back in an event where he first made a name despite being a rookie five years ago – 3×3 basketball.
The flashy guard Romeo finally joined the Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 national team practice session in preparation for the 30th Southeast Asian Games which the country is staging next month.
“Na-miss ko magsuot ng Pilipinas jersey,” Romeo said after the training session Monday night with other aspirants conducted by national team coach Ronnie Magsanoc at the Meralco gym in Quezon City.
“Excited… sana maging deserving ako maka-laro kasi ang lalim ng pool ang lalim ng lineup,” added Romeo, now a two-time champion with SMB.
Aside from the 5-foot-11 Romeo, also part of the 3×3 national team are Meralco’s Baser Amer, Chris Newsome and Raymond Almazan, Columbian Dyip’s CJ Perez, Blackwater’s Mac Belo, Phoenix’s Jason Perkins, Alaska’s Chris Banchero, NorthPort’s Robert Bolick, Magnolia’s Ian Sangalang, TNT’s Anthony Semerad and SMB’s Moala Tautuaa.
Fresh from his rookie campaign in the PBA, Romeo teamed up fellow pros KG Canaleta, Aldrech Ramos and Rey Guevarra to form the Manila North during the 2014 FIBA 3×3 Manila World Tour.
Romeo led the team to the title that earned them a trip to the 3×3 World Tour Masters in Japan that same year.
Romeo said that while he has played 3×3, he said it’s not an assurance that he will be included to the final roster, knowing all players are capable of suiting up for the national team.
“Ang tagal ko na din hindi nakapaglaro, kailangan kong pag-aralan… may mga bagong rules yata yung 3×3. So bago na uli ako,” added Romeo, who still hopes to one day play again for Gilas Pilipinas in the 5-on-5 event. (Waylon Galvez)
