SAN Miguel Beer has beefed up its roster in its bid to retain the crown while Terrafirma is hoping a pair of veterans and proven winners can spell the big difference.
The Beermen shipped prolific guard Terrence Romeo and big man Vic Manuel yesterday to the Dyip in exchange for Juami Tiongson and Andreas Cahilig.
The deals were approved by PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial yesterday, two days before the mid-season Commissioner’s Cup comes off the wraps tomorrow at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
The 5-foot-11 Romeo admitted the trade “is one the saddest moments in his career.”
“Probably isa sa pinaka-sad moment ng career ko pero ganoon talaga, walang permanent sa basketball world,” Romeo said on his Instagram account yesterday. “Importante iyong happy memories and achievements natin at mga learnings, hindi mawawala.
“Thank you Terrafirma sa pag-welcome sa akin. Sana makatulong ako sa inyo. Let’s get it,” he added.
Romeo won three titles with SMB after he was taken No. 5 overall by GlobalPort (now NorthPort) in the 2013 Draft before he moved to TNT.
The Beermen got Romeo from the Tropang Giga in 2018 for David Semerad, Brian Heruela and SMB’s 2021 first-round pick.
Tiongson has been a journeyman, having suited up for Blackwater, NLEX and Terrafirma but has yet to call himself a “champion.”
The 6-foot-5 Cahilig will likewise get a shot at winning it all with the formidable Beermen.
Romeo thanked the entire SMB family—teammates, former tactician Leo Austria, and SMC chairman and CEO Ramon S. Ang.
“To my San Miguel family, sa lahat ng teammates ko, masaya ako na nakasama kayo sa seven years ko na paglalaro sa San Miguel. Sa aking mga coaches, maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat specially coach Leo for allowing me to showcase my talent para makatulong sa team and dahil din sa San Miguel nanalo ako ng mga championship at ibang individual awards thank you,” he said. “Maraming salamat po boss Alfrancis sa lahat ng tulong at lahat ng pag-intindi sa akin at pag-alaga.
“Higit sa lahat sa aking boss na utang ko iyong career ko at kung na saan ako ngayon boss RSA maraming, maraming salamat po sa tiwala noong nagsisimula pa lang ako sa San Miguel hanggang ngayon po.”
Manuel, 37, tasted his first diadem in the pro league with the Beermen and if and when his and Romeo’s stints with Terrafirma is not a stopgap measure, another ring is likely farfetched.