March 24, 2017

Romeo rejoins Globalport in Lanao game against Star

The 2017 PBA Commissioner’s Cup hits the road Saturday, featuring the return of Terrence Romeo as GlobalPort tangles with Star at the Mindanao Civic Center in Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

GlobalPort coach Franz Pumaren confirmed the return of Romeo from sickness that caused the league scoring champ to miss their first game in the tourney and, early on, Gilas Pilipinas’ three-day training camp in Splendido Taal.

Minus Romeo, the Batang Pier were ripped apart by the Alaska Milk Aces, 79-107.

The Star Hotshots, meanwhile, got off to an impressive 101-82 conference debut against the Phoenix Fuel Masters Wednesday.

GlobalPort’s game is likely to improve a lot as Romeo gets back in harness forming a potential deadly triumvirate with backcourt partner Stanley Pringle and import Sean Williams.

Sponsored content:
Williams and Pringle came up with big numbers but failed to get the needed support from their teammates. The Batang Pier terribly missed Romeo and his season-best average of 28.8 points an outing.

The Star Hotshots and import Tony Mitchell put in a big game together in their 19-point conquest of the Fuel Masters.

Mitchell more than held his own against Jameel McKay in a duel of PBA debuting imports, helping the Hotshots get past a team they swept in three matches in the Philippine Cup.

Mitchell shrugged off early fouls as he collected 24 points and 16 rebounds in showing his stuff as a former Detroit Piston.

Star local gunners Mark Barroca, Allein Maliksi and PJ Simon also provided firepower, outplaying and outgunning their Phoenix counterparts much to the dismay of coach Ariel Vanguardia.

Sponsored content:
“Bugbog kami sa guards matchup. Their guards are raping ours. Parang pag nakita nila ang mga guwardya namin, nasa isip nila ‘let’s attack them,’” said Vanguardia.

Barroca, Maliksi, Simon and Paul Lee, however, are likely to have their hands full against Romeo and Pringle.