Romeo feels like a freshman after TNT transfer

MANILA, Philippines — Terrence Romeo has become a household name for quite some time now that his service alone equates to a team becoming an offensive juggernaut.

But joining a squad stacked with firepower in TNT, Romeo knows he has to recalibrate his approach to the game, among others.

“Pakiramdam ko, rookie uli ako,” KaTropa’s newest guard said shortly after his first practice with the team on Wednesday noon.

“Every time na nalilipat ka sa ibang team, panibagong pakisama, panibagong sistema, panibagong management,” added the three-time PBA scoring champion.

Romeo, who made his way up to become GlobalPort’s franchise player, was shipped to the flagship MVP group team on Monday along with big man Yousef Taha for third-year center and former overall pick Moala Tautuaa and two future draft picks.

READ: GlobalPort trades Romeo, Taha to TNT for Tautuaa draft picks
 

 @tbvromeo clocks in for work. This is his first-ever practice with @tntph. He (and Yousef Taha) were shipped from @GlobalportPH on Monday in a swap for Mo Tautuaa and two future draft picks. @StarSportsHub @PhilstarNews @PhilippineStar pic.twitter.com/sOU8BeTt9h

— Denison Rey Dalupang (@sonrd) April 4, 2018

The 26-year-old guard made a name for himself with his brand of isolation basketball, which endeared him to Filipino fans. His stroke, which has seen vast improvement, was instrumental in the Philippine team’s valiant stand against archrival South Korea in the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup in Lebanon.

There, Romeo scored a blistering 22 points in a single quarter to give the Filipinos a fighting chance against the team that time and time again, denied us a chance to shine in the world stage.

Asked about his mindset joining the perennial playoff contender, Romeo offered that it is all hinged on the paramount goal of winning a championship — one that he hasn’t done in his five-year career.

"Kung ano man ‘yung mga naging ko sa GlobalPort, mananatili na 'yun doon,” he noted. “Dito, kailangan makagawa ako ng mas maganda.

“Lahat naman nakuha ko na — naging (Mythical Team member) na ko, naging scoring champ, Most Improved (Player),” Romeo pointed out. “Ang pinakapangarap ko na lang is makapaglaro ng Finals or makuha 'yung championship.”

With joining TNT, Romeo doesn’t only get to reunite with his former mentor who groomed him to become UAAP’s Most Valuable Player in 2013, but he also gets to play alongside trusted cagers — former Far Eastern University teammates Roger Pogoy and RR Garcia and becomes a part of a team whose winning culture touts 17 PBA Finals appearances.

"Hindi na 'to katulad ng GlobalPort na kailangan every game dapat [may certain] average ko para at least manalo kami or maganda 'yung kalabasan ng game namin,” he said with a smile.

"Dito ibang story naman.”

Watch the three-time PBA All-Star talk about his exit from GlobalPort, the possibility of forming a power pairing with veteran Jayson Castro and his recovery from a contused knee in this video interview: