By REYNALD MAGALLON
It’s all’s well that ends well for Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao and San Miguel Beer guard Terrence Romeo.
The two, who figured in a heated verbal altercation at the end of Game 3 of their best-of-seven semifinals series, made amends and buried the hatchet after Romeo personally reached out to the veteran mentor before the start of Game 4.
The spat stemmed over a garbage time triple from Romeo that did not sit well for the fiery mentor. They figured in a heated exchange at the end of that contest with Guiao calling out the flamboyant guard for the apparent lack of respect.
“Lumapit ako kay coach Yeng and sabi ko, ‘Pasensiya na, hindi ko naman intention na huwag mag-respeto at mambastos. Hindi na namin kailangan palakihin yun. Sabi ko nga kung naka-offend ako, nag-sorry naman ako,” said Romeo.
Guiao, likewise, is putting the issue behind now that Romeo already apologized and the series also over and done
“I accepted his apologies so tapos na ‘yung usapan na ‘yon so wala na ‘yon. Ibig sabihin, move forward na tayo after that. Nilapitan niya ako before the game. ‘Yun na lang naman importante do’n,” said Guiao.
“Hindi naman ‘yon kailangang kargahin ng matagalan as long as nakapag-apologize na siya. So I accepted the apology so it’s over,” he added.
The SMB guard however admitted that he took offense on Guiao’s remarks, saying that he only wanted to give his hometown crowd a treat.
“Yung opinion ni coach Yeng dun sa sinabi niya na mayabang and nag-dispect ako, hindi ako agree doon, hindi agree yung family ko, yung mga kaibigan ko, at yung ibang fans ko na nag-message sa akin,” he added.
Romeo stressed that he still holds high respect for Guiao despite the words thrown at him fully understanding that it was uttered in the heat of the moment.
“Wala akong any bad na sasabihin kay coach Yeng kasi mataas ang respeto ko sa kanya as a coach, kasi he’s really a good coach,” said Guiao.
“Good thing kay coach Yeng, hindi naman siya yung paglapit ko, ‘Alis ka diyan or what’ na parang galit siya sa akin. Hindi naman ganun. Basketball lang talaga, part of the game. Meron talagang ganun na moment. Hindi kailangan na magtanim or maging personal ka,” he added.
