He exploded for 12 points in the final quarter against Phoenix.
With the San Miguel Beermen down by a point entering the fourth quarter against the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters on Christmas Day in the PBA Commissioner's Cup, the men in red suddenly went on an eight-zero run.
The Beermen snatched the lead in just two minutes and a half. Two of the baskets in their searing surge came from fiery guard Terrence Romeo, who just a month ago was sidelined by a knee injury.
He scored 12 of his 22 points in the final frame to give San Miguel the Christmas Day victory, 117-96, and assured the team's entry into the quarterfinals.
Romeo also provided three rebounds, eight assists, and two steals in a little over 26 minutes off the bench.
The key, he said, is not to rush his recovery. But that doesn't mean he slacks off either.
"Pinipilit ko ma-maintain 'yung condition ko. After ma-injure, three weeks ako nagpahinga," he told reporters after the game.
He sat out four games from November 25 to December 10 after experiencing knee pain in the match against the Meralco Bolts. But when he was fit to play again, he made sure to not put extra pressure on himself.
"Slowly, kinukuha ko (conditioning ko sa) game namin against TNT (Tropang Giga), game against (Barangay) Ginebra (San Miguel)," he added.
Against Ginebra last December 15, Romeo put up nine points in 14 minutes. He improved against the TNT two days later, tallying 14 points in almost 15 minutes.
With June Mar Fajardo out for an extended period due to a fractured hand, Romeo is expected to carry a heavier load heading into the playoffs.
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"Ngayon, unti-unting naibabalik ('yung conditioning ko) kasi nakakapag-scrimmage na ko. Nakakasabay na ko sa scrimmages namin," Romeo noted.
The Beermen's victory put them in fourth place with a 6-3 record and halted Phoenix's six-game win streak. The Fuel Masters remain second with a 7-2 slate.
San Miguel will try to aim for a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals against the Terrafirma Dyip on January 7 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
(PM)