Evolution

The Golden Boy
(photo credit: pba-online.net)

GlobalPort Batang Pier’s Terrence Romeo is redefining the way he is known to the local basketball world in two PBA Philippine Cup games played so far. Though the “Golden Boy” is averaging his customary 27 points, he is now actively keeping his teammates involved by issuing 7 assists as well.

Change looks like it’s coming, eh?

Before we proceed, we’d like to ask: who is the better basketball player? A guy scores 40 points or a guy who puts up 15 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists while also deferring to a teammate when it comes to taking the game-winner?

Honestly, it really depends on the style of basketball that you have grown to love, watch, and play. Those born in the 90s or earlier would most likely cheer for the scorer. Those who were born in the 2000s would most likely argue for the all-around stat-stuffer. There really isn’t any right answer here if you ask any sane basketball mind, for as long as the team goes home with a win. Romeo? He’s a throwback, ruthless scorer who doesn’t care if he has a horrendous shooting night for as long as he gets the victory.

That was or appears to be "then," though.

See, Romeo isn’t like any of today’s stars who are either gifted scorers (but only up to a certain point) who could make passes and rebound the basketball.  Most of today's "scorers" end up doubting themselves in or mid-game once their shot isn't falling and ends up trying to make up for it by passing; or being passive completely.

No, Romeo is a bullish genius when it comes to scoring the basketball. This reality is only enforced and strengthened by the mere fact that he’s probably just as good a dribbler as he is a scorer. While others spent years in trying to cover all the basics, which is the correct way in learning the game, Romeo spent time developing his offensive repertoire up to the point wherein we argue that he is unequalled or unrivaled one-on-one.

NLEX Road Warriors’ young guard Carlo Lastimosa can light it up, but not as consistently as Romeo. There are PBA veterans, most notably TNT’s Jayson Castro, who could also do the same, but arguably not as demonstratively flashy. If Rain or Shine’s James Yap is hailed as the “Man with the Million Moves,” then Romeo would be at the Trillion mark.   

Think Kaede Rukawa of the popular anime/manga Slam Dunk created by Takehiko Inoue (who also penned Vagabond, a Samurai must-read). Now there was a true scoring genius, much like Romeo, who dominated opponents by sheer ability.  In the latter part of the popular (daresay basketball cartoon canon) Japanese comic, Rukawa wanted to pursue an NBA dream but was stopped by his Coach Mitoyoshi Anzai primarily because he was “incomplete” as a player.

Anzai did not explain further, but as the manga progressed it showed that while Rukawa has attained near deity-like scoring abilities, the game of basketball would be more fun/ easier for him/ harder for opponents if he simply made a pass or two/ played decoy (highlighted by the manga-ending Sannoh match).

Simply put: Romeo: Rukawa and new Batang Pier coach Franz Pumaren: Anzai-sensei.

Having Pumaren around is a gift to Romeo, since the former 4x UAAP champion coach has been known to work wonders with guard-oriented offenses. This isn’t like before when Pido Jarencio would simply let Romeo freelance on offense. No, Pumaren has always made sure to have proper spacing on the floor for his scorers (Ren Ren Ritualo, Mac Cardona, and Joseph Yeo come to mind).

We aren’t seeing the old “your turn, my turn” offense too between Romeo and Stanley Pringle which is good for Batang Pier fans.

Sure, you could call out Romeo for giving up the ball around 5 times at least in those two matches, but it also shows that he is trying his darndest to make the correct plays. The bump in assists is a testament to Romeo’s willingness to keep everyone involved, contrary to popular belief. Last year he averaged 4 assists per game even, but we’re pretty sure his haters chose to ignore that.

We’d also like to give a nod to his new teammates: JayR Quinahan, Nino Canaleta and Von Pessumal, who could all make the catch-and-shoot/easy assist thing work as compared to Romeo’s previous teammates.

So here we are, watching the evolution of a gifted scorer who is on top of the food chain. There will be ugly turnovers as the season progresses, and he might regress at some point should the Batang Pier not start winning, but for the most part we are cheering the newest Asian shoe brand ambassador to keep going on an even higher level and becoming an even bigger threat than what he already is.

Who knows, maybe one day we will start talking about the evolving Romeo along the lines of being “Asia’s best POINT guard.”

Hell, maybe one day we could even talk NBA.