Romeo ready when PBA calls !-- -- Joaquin Henson (The Philippine Star) - June 3, 2020 - 12:00am MANILA, Philippines San Miguel Beer guard Terrence Romeo said yesterday whenever the government and the PBA Board of Governors decide to allow team training, he'll be in condition to go back to the gym because it's his responsibility as a professional athlete to stay in shape even during an extended lockdown. "Kailangan alagaan ang ating sarili," he said.

"Mga professional athletes kami kaya stay in shape palagi. Pag-dating ng next conference, dapat ready na.

Sa San Miguel, tiwala kami kina Boss RSA (San Miguel Corp. president Ramon S.

Ang) at Boss Al (sports director Alfrancis Chua). Sobrang alaga nila sa players, kaiba ang trato nila sa amin.

Alam ko, thinking ahead sila always kaya pag-sabi nila OK na to practice or play games, susunod kami." Romeo, 28, is now on his seventh PBA season.

After playing five years with GlobalPort/NorthPort and TNT, he moved to San Miguel Beer and saw action on title teams in his first two conferences capped by a Finals MVP trophy in the Commissioner's Cup. He said he couldn't be happier with the San Miguel organization.

Romeo said throughout the lockdown, he has mainly stayed home. "Iwas risk at kasama ko sa bahay, asawa, ang aming two-year-old baby, dalawang kapatid at parents ko na over 50," he said.

"Dalawang beses lang ako lumabas. Once, bumisita ako kay Niao (Reyes), aking manager.

Next, nag-testing ang buong team sa St. Luke's.

Nag-iingat talaga ako kasi marami akong kasamang minamahal sa bahay. Sobrang gusto ko na maglaro.

I love basketball but I also love my family." If there is still a high risk of contamination, Romeo said it'll be difficult to perform on the court.

"Paano ka makaka-perform ng maayos kung may peligro pa?" he said. "Iisipin mo baka may nagdadala ng virus.

Kung athlete ka, malakas ang resistensya mo but pwedeng madala ang virus sa bahay kaya delikado. May mga government guidelines na dapat sundin natin kasi kung magpabaya tayo, baka ang kapalit ay buhay.

Huwag naman sana." Romeo said he trusts the government, the PBA Board, Commissioner Willie Marcial and San Miguel management to make the right decision.

Meanwhile, he's pacing himself in home workouts. "Sa umpisa ng lockdown, tuluy-tuloy ang training ko sa bahay treadmill, basketball moves, dribbling, drills," he said.

"But the last two weeks, nag-slow down muna ako. Mahirap na ma-burn out.

Controlled diet din kailangan. Dapat huwag madaling mapagod sa first practice after lockdown.

Pag-gising ko sa umaga at alam ko walang game, parang gigil ako kaya work smart lang sa bahay for physical and mental conditioning."

© Pakistan Press International, source Asianet-Pakistan