Romeo hopes to get his rhythm back in time for the playoffs

Terrence Romeo vows to show the old form that made him one of the PBA's deadliest scorers come playoff time after giving himself a belowaverage grade in his muchanticipated return from a knee contusion in GlobalPort's 104100 loss to Phoenix Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Romeo showed no signs of rust and fired 20 points on 8-of-18 shooting in his first game of the season, even having a hand in the Batang Pier's fiery rally that nearly erased the Fuel Masters' 31point third quarter lead.

GlobalPort, however, managed to clinch a quarterfinals berth in the PBA Philippine Cup, and Romeo hopes that having a game under his belt would help him get his timing back.

"Kinakailangan ko na siguro makatulong sa team and para na rin sa sarili ko. Gusto ko nang bumalik ang rhythm ko kasi hindi pupwedeng, for example, kailanganin ako sa playoffs tapos wala akong game di ba?" Romeo said.

"Wala akong rhythm, mahirap. So at least, nafe-feel ko na ang PBA game. Yung bangaan, yung gulangan, malaking tulong," he added.

The scoring champion from last season had not seen action since a Governors' Cup game last September after hurting his knee while playing for Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA Asia Cup in Lebanon. It also forced him to miss the national team's campaigns in the first two windows of the 2019 World Cup qualifiers.

Romeo admitted that he'll have to once again adjust to the brand of play after little practice time under his belt.

"Medyo naninibago dahil ang pinakapapawis ko (bago bumalik sa practice) is jogging lang," said Romeo, who only participated in four practices prior to his return. "Ito may mga kabangaan ako na malalakas ang katawan so panibagong (adjustments). Saka yung mga looks na ibinibigay ng depensa, ngayon ko lang ulit nakita. —

PBA.com