San Miguel gunner Terrence Romeo clarified his motives in knocking down his garbage-time triple that sparked the ire of Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao in Game Three of their semifinal duel last Wednesday, May 22 – he had no intention to disrespect the multi-titled mentor as he only wanted to protect the Beermen's lead and give his hometown a show.
Romeo dropped all of his 13 points in the fourth quarter as San Miguel repeatedly thwarted the unrelenting efforts of the Elasto Painters, who kept the game close.
The former Far Eastern U star scored the last five points of the Beermen, including the controversial triple, to finally put away Rain or Shine which thrice cut the Beermen's advantage to just four points in the last five minutes. San Miguel led by no more than seven in the fourth quarter until Romeo's game-sealing trey for a 117-107 final score.
"First of all, talagang wala akong intensyong mag-disrespect lalo na si coach Yeng, team Rain or Shine, Rain or Shine organization. Wala akong ganoong intensyon. Saka ang taas ng respeto ko kay coach Yeng," said Romeo prior to the Beermen and the Elasto Painter's Game Four duel at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay on Friday, May 24.
"'Yung game, kung makikita mo, parang hindi naman siya two minutes, tambak na tambak sila, tapos talagang inintensyon kong bastusin sila. Hindi ganoon. Siguro nasa one minute, six points, seven points [ang lamang namin], parang nagbabalikan. Although tsinek ko, lumamang na kami noong huli," said Romeo.
Romeo scored on a jumper to give San Miguel a seven-point buffer, 109-102, at the 3:02 mark of the fourth period. Santi Santillan then answered with a triple with 1:30 remaining as Rain or Shine continued to pose a threat.
Marcio Lassiter, on track of topping the league's all-time list of most three-pointers made, sank a trey of his own to restore a seven-point spread for San Miguel, 112-105, with 30.7 left to play.
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Santillan countered anew which turned out to be the last basket for Rain or Shine as Romeo wrapped it up in the last 17 seconds.
Romeo added that he only wanted to perform his best in front of his fellow Cavitenos, including his friends who were present to watch his game. The match was held at the Dasmarinas City Arena in Cavite. Romeo was born in Imus in the same province.
He noted how he could not find his rhythm early in the match and made the most of it when he got his groove in the fourth.
"That time pa, nandoon sa Cavite 'yung game. Thirty 'yung hiningi kong tickets sa mga bosses namin. Parang ang naibigay sa'kin, mga almost 20. Nanood lahat ng barkada ko, kaibigan ko, that time. First quarter, pagtira ko, medyo hindi ko makuha 'yung timing ko, so nandoon ako sa gigil factor na gusto kong mabigyan ng show ang mga kababayan ko, maipakita sa kanilang maganda ang game ko," said Romeo.
"Nakuha ko siya noong fourth, so na-carried away ako sa game na tuluy-tuloy 'yung momentum ko noong time na 'yun," added Romeo, who wound up with a 6-for-16 scoring clip in more than 19 minutes on the floor.
Terrence Romeo goes for a basket against Rain or Shine defender Andrei Caracut in Game Three of their semifinal series in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup last Wednesday, May 22. | Photo (c) PBA
He said that he was only focused on nailing the shot and did not do any unnecessary actions that would show that he disrespected the Rain or Shine side.
"Kung nakita ninyo paano ko ini-score 'yung bola, hindi ako tumingin sa oras, hindi ako tumingin sa bench. It's like pure basketball. Pagkuha ko, dere-deretso ako, tinira ko. Hindi ako 'yung nagyabang na tambak na sila, pagkuha ko [ng bola], tiningnan ko pa sila sa bench, nag-dribble-dribble na ganyan tapos tumirang ganoon. Wala akong ganoong thinking na disrespect," said Romeo.
"Kasi, for me, that's part of disrespect, 'yung may action ka na pangdi-disrespect. Ako, wala akong action na pangdi-disrespect. Siguro na-offend sila sa ginawa ko, but honestly, wala akong intensyon."
Addressing Guiao's post-match interview where he described Romeo's act as disrespectful, the San Miguel guard said that he disagrees, saying that there was never an instance that he intentionally acted that way against his opponents.
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"Sinabihan niya na mayabang ako and bastos. For me, hindi ako sang-ayon doon kasi 'yung nangyari na 'yan is hindi naman 'yan intensyong ginawa ko talaga sa kanila para i-judge kaagad akong mayabang and bastos," said Romeo.
"And to be honest, sa tagal kong naglalaro ng basketball, wala akong history na tambak na 'yung kalaban tapos yayabangan ko and magshu-shoot ako ng bola."
Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao reacts during the Elasto Painters' Game Two semifinal clash against San Miguel last Sunday, May 19. | Photo (c) RM Chua
Romeo then recalled instances where Guiao uttered bad words against him during matches but pointed out that he did not retaliate, even when his family gets offended by them.
"Sa tagal ko nang naglalaro ng basketball sa PBA, 10 years or more maybe, 'pag minumura ako ni coach Yeng, buong pagkatao ko, to be honest, mumurahin niya ako. Uuwi ako sa bahay, magagalit ang family ko, magagalit sa kanya. Ano ang sasabihin ko sa family ko? 'It's okay, part 'yan ng basketball, eh. Part 'yan ng strategy ni coach Yeng. Ganoon siya as a coach.'
"After every game naming ganoon ang nangyayari, not one time, kahit i-check ninyo 'yung buong history ko na kalaban ang Rain or Shine, kalaban sina coach Yeng, [there was] not one time na nagsabi ako ng bad about coach Yeng.
"Pagkatapos ng ganoon sasabihin ko, 'It's part of the game, walang personal 'yun. Nagba-basketball, nagku-compete lang kami. It's part of the strategy. And ganoon si coach Yeng magpakita ng support sa mga players niya and, at the same time, ganoon siya mag-intimidate ng mga tao,'" said Romeo.
Romeo added that he has remained respectful of Guiao and the rest of the Rain or Shine staff and players.
"Ganoon lang ang lagi kong sagot. I never say bad things about him. Wala and alam 'yan ng mga coaching staff. Kahit coaching staff nila coach Yeng, sila coach Caloy. Alam nilang respectful ako sa kanila. Kahit saan ko sila makita, binabati ko 'yan, even the Rain or Shine players. Lahat ng mga 'yan, wala akong bad na ipinakita sa kanila or iniyabang sa kanila," he said.
While he admitted that he and his family got hurt by Guiao's remarks, Romeo said that he does not harbor any ill feelings toward the fiery mentor and that he highly respects him.
"Medyo nasaktan ako and 'yung family kong tawagin akong ganoon na i-judge kaagad ako nang ganoon sa ganyang incident."
"Pero wala akong galit personally kay coach Yeng. I would still have a high respect with coach Yeng. Kasi alam naman natin kung gaano kagaling mag-coach si coach Yeng, gaano siya kagaling sa system," said Romeo.
"So kung opinion niya 'yun in that one scenario sa 10 years ko sa PBA, kung opinion ni coach Yeng 'yun, idiya-judge nila ako na ganoon ang personality ko, wala na akong magagawa. Pero I know myself. Wala akong history na ginawa ko 'yun sa kahit kaninong team, kahit college days ko, wala."
He said that he actually wanted to apologize after angering Guiao, but the Rain or Shine tactician swore against him.
"Actually, pupuwede akong humingi ng pasensya kahit na unintentionally, 'di ko intensyong nagawa. Pero paglapit ko kay coach Yeng, minura kaagad niya ako. 'Yung mura, naka-loudspeaker, nakaganito," Romeo said while demonstrating how Guiao cupped both hands on his mouth while speaking.
"Natatawa na nga lang ako kasi sanay na ako kay coach Yeng. Everytime na gumanito si coach Yeng tapos nagmura siya, ang tawag ko doon mura na loudspeaker basta nakaganyan siya."
San Miguel's Terrence Romeo dribbles the ball against Rain or Shine defender Andrei Caracut in Game Two of their semifinal series last Sunday, May 19. | Photo (c) RM Chua
He reiterated his desire to say sorry to Guiao once they meet.
"Kahit nangyari na 'yan, kahit may mga nasabi siyang bad about me, wala akong sasabihing negative. Kung makita ko siya anywhere, I'll still greet him. Actually, magsu-sorry ako kung makita ko si coach Yeng," said Romeo.
"Kasi totoo namang kapag naka-offend ka ng tao, siyempre, normal na may tendency na magalit 'yung tao or magsalita. Bibihira lang ang mga tao na kahit na-o-offend sila, kaya nilang maging calm and composed and makapagsalita pa rin nang maayos. Kay coach Yeng, alam naman nating straight talaga magsalita, saka masakit magsalita si coach Yeng. Pero 'yun 'yung dahilan that's why he is coach Yeng," he added.
In the end, Romeo emphasized that he is not disrespectful and has never been that way to anyone in the league.
"'Yun lang 'yung side ko. Hindi lang ako sang-ayon sa side na ma-judge ako kaagad na mayabang or bastos na tao. Never ako nagkaroon ng history, never ako nag-disrespect anyone in this league," said Romeo.