Romeo overwhelmed by 'Rock Star' attention in Jones Cup

MANILA, Philippines -- Incoming third-year pro Terrence Romeo admitted feeling like a ‘rock star’ during the Gilas Pilipinas’ silver-medal run in the 37th William Jones Cup on Sunday in Taipei.

Emerging as the tournament’s basketball star due to his gung-ho style of play and ability to score over bigger defenders, Romeo ranked the Jones Cup as one of his memorable moments in his young cage career.

“Sobrang nagulat ako sa reception ng mga Taiwanese fans dun. Kasi naglalakad lang ako sa mall or sa kalye, tinatawag na nila ako, ‘Romeo! Romeo!’ Eh yung mga locals dun, grabe ang passion nila sa basketball, nakaka-overwhelm,” Romeo told Philstar.com, shortly after touching down in Manila on Monday afternoon.

“One of the best fans sila at grabeng experience ito para sa akin.”

The 5-foot-11 Romeo, a veteran fixture in the Fiba 3x3 the last two years, emerged as Gilas’ main gunner in the annual tournament held in honor of R. William Jones, one of the founders of the world governing basketball body.

The former UAAP Most Valuable Player actually dropped a personal tournament-high 23 points in Gilas’ 82-70 loss to South Korea, one of only two losses the Filipinos incurred in the tournament.

Romeo though skipped the team’s last three games against the Wellington Saints, the US Select and Chinese Taipei-B to rest his left ankle, which he sprained in Gilas’ 74-65 loss to eventual Jones Cup champion Iran.

But overall, Romeo said the experience he had playing alongside veteran international players like Jayson Castro, Asi Taulava and Dondon Hontiveros are invaluable as he continues to grow in his basketball career.

“Sobrang focused sila kuya Asi sa laro. At ang sarap ng feeling na manalo ng silver, nakakataas ng kumpiyansa,” the 23-year-old young star of GlobalPort.

Still, Romeo isn’t thinking about making the Gilas final 12, despite his stellar performance at the Jones Cup, saying his only job is to give his best and leave it all out on the floor.

“Basta ako magta-trabaho lang ako at magpa-practice ng mabuti. As a team, marami pa kaming kailangang matutunan,” he said.