Beermen felt Romeo and Cruz's absence.
Terrence Romeo watched as San Miguel absorbed an 88-80 loss to Magnolia in Game Three of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.
Romeo was wearing street clothes with a boot as he sat at the end of the Beermen bench.
SMB team manager Gee Abanilla later revealed the spitfire guard suffered a tendonitis on his left ankle.
“Assessment after one week since there is still pain,” Abanilla told One Sports.
The former PBA scoring champion also missed the entire semifinal series against Brgy. Ginebra because of an ankle injury he sustained during workouts. Romeo returned in time for the Finals opener but was limited to just eight minutes.
But he was not the only one who sat out the pivotal Game Three, with Jericho Cruz also failing to see action after getting an automatic one-game suspension for five technical fouls this conference.
Cruz was whistled for a technical foul in Game Two Sunday as he stuck his tongue out in taunting Calvin Abueva after burying a triple at the 1:49 mark of the third quarter.
But the battle continues for the Beermen who are raring to bounce back from last match's slip-up. They tangle with the Hotshots for the fourth time tomorrow at 7:35 p.m. at the same venue.
[ALSO READ: PBA: Tyler Bey 'sacrifices' for Game 3 win, aims to bring Magnolia to 'Promised Land']
The match will also air on RPTV, A2Z, PBA Rush and the Pilipinas Live app.