Red-hot Romeo likened to Iverson

TAIPEI – Gilas Pilipinas rookie Terrence Romeo has emerged the toast of the 2015 Jones Cup, impressing not only the fans and his co-players, but also LA Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson.

In fact, the 23-year-old Fil-Am referred to the slippery Gilas guard as the country’s version of Allen Iverson.

“He’s an (Allen) Iverson,” said Clarkson of the Globalport hotshot, who leads all comers in the nine-team, eight-nation tourney through Day Three with an average of 20.5 points.

Romeo paced Gilas Pilipinas in their games against Chinese Taipei and South Korea, wowing everybody here with amazing crossover moves, stunning acrobatic layups and booming three-pointers.

“He’s got the swagger that I like,” said Clarkson of Romeo as told to SBP vice chairman Ricky Vargas and PBA board member Patrick Gregorio over dinner Monday night.

“He enters the court, faces the wall and practices. That’s passion,” said Clarkson on what he observes on Romeo in practice.

“Does he need to pass the ball a little more than what he does?” Vargas asked.

“He’s an Iverson. Allow him to do what he can do. Put him with people who can shoot and let him create,” said Clarkson.