Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — In his first semifinal game as a professional basketball player against the best defensive team in the league, Terrence Romeo definitely made quite an impression on Monday (January 4).
Romeo played the way he has done all conference long, only this time he broke his previous record in GlobalPort Batang Pier’s 107-93 win over Alaska Aces in Game 1 of the Smart Bro-PBA Philippine Cup semifinals.
The spitfire guard erupted with career-high 41 points built on six triples to help the Batang Pier take a 1-0 upperhand in the best-of-seven affair at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“Masaya. Pero hindi na mahalaga kung career high basta nanalo yung team,” said Romeo, who also dished out four assists.
Sizzling hot from the get-go, Romeo instigated GlobalPort’s scintillating 26-9 start and went on to score 22 markers in the first 24 minutes of action.
But the Aces staged a spirited run.
The no. 1 team in the elimination round relied on its defense to slice what was once an 18-point deficit to 73-64 on Eric Menk’s hook shot in the opening minutes of the penultimate quarter.
A JVee Casio three-pointer trimmed the gap further, 79-73, minutes later.
But Romeo’s nine points inside the final three minutes shut the door on Alaska for good.
