Romeo’s hard work pays off

TERRENCE Romeo’s road to recovery and his surprising return to Gilas Pilipinas after a four-year absence was a byproduct of his strong drive to get back into tip-top conditioning.

San Miguel Beer physiotherapist Edward Bacason noted that the three-time PBA scoring champion went through rehab and strengthening in his effort to overcome an assortment of injuries that included his shoulder and back this past season.

“We did rehab and strengthening during the off season. Then we progressed to conditioning,” Bacason told The Manila Times on Thursday.

Terrence Romeo FILE PHOTO 

Romeo played several games during the PBA On Tour, averaging 21.8 points in 35.3 minutes in four games as he tried using the preseason matches as springboard to his comeback.

Little did he know that his hard work would lead to a call-up to serve the national team once again.

“(He did a lot of) Weights, speed agility and quickness drills. Then he did extra shooting and dribbling drills also,” shared the long-time SMB veteran therapist, who was also behind six-time league Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo’s return to form since the Cebuano slotman suffered an MCL (medial collateral ligament) injury in the Beermen’s debut game versus the Ryukyu Golden Kings in the 2023 East Asia Super League last March.

Bacason said after seeing Romeo intently work his way back to game shape, he believes the six-time PBA All Star is poised to regain his old, fiery form.

“I think he is ready this time. He’s really determined and really wants to play again,” shared Bacason.

Romeo, the fifth overall pick in the 2013 PBA Rookie Draft, battled an assortment of injuries over the last four seasons.

A shoulder problem cut short his 2020 season when the PBA held its games in a bubble. He then sustained a knee problem in 2021 along with a nagging back injury that reduced him to a mere spectator during the Beermen’s 2022 Philippine Cup championship run.

Romeo is making a Philippine team comeback since he last played for the national team against Australia and Chinese Taipei in the first window of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

The shifty guard out of Far Eastern University was part of the Gilas Pilipinas team that bagged a silver medal in the 2015 FIBA Asia Cup in China as well as the William Jones Cup in Taipei that same year.

Romeo also played a big role in the Philippines’ gold medal conquest in the 2017 Seaba men’s championships in Manila.