Challenge Accepted: When Mark Caguioa and Terrence Romeo Met

It wasn’t the passing of the torch. It wasn’t the crowning of a new king. It wasn’t even the playoffs. But, it definitely felt like a game that we will all look back on someday.

When Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and the GlobalPort Batang Pier were set to clash on Thursday, I had my eyes set on one aspect of the game. The Bromeo vs. The Spark. That was it. I knew that there was more to these two teams matching-up than that. There was the undefeated slate of the Gin Kings. There was the Japeth and Greg tandem that has been making opposing frontcourts look like they were playing in the PRADA division. But, those side stories didn’t even cross my mind when the game was nearing.

Terrence Romeo was coming off of a huge 34-point game on 17 shots against the Air 21 Express. That alone was impressive. It made me feel all giddy inside. I wanted to see him play against a contending team that was going to stick a hard nosed defender on him. A teams that now knows what he can do on the big boy level. Next on his schedule was Ginebra. Perfect.

Mark Caguioa looked like he needed to get his bearings right, after his first game against the San Mig Coffee Mixers. It just wasn’t there yet for the former MVP. After recuperating from his injury, the first game out just didn’t look good. Then, against Rain or Shine, The Spark returned to us. Capping off that outing with 22-points and completely dismantling a real title contender.

These two men were on a collision course with each other. One, a budding star in the PBA. The other, the brightest star of them all. The new kid on the block was going to take on Don Corleone. The only thing missing was Mark’s “kulotskidoodle” style and it would’ve been a match-up of hair raising proportions.

As the game began, Barangay Ginebra did what they were supposed to do: control the game. Romeo, and the rest of GlobalPort, just didn’t have the same amount of weapons that the Gin Kings had. They were being dominated for the first half. Every time that the Batang Pier made a move, Ginebra would just punch right back to set everything back to normal.

It was the 3rd quarter and BGSM had 19-point lead. Looked like that Bro vs. Spark showdown wasn’t going to happen just yet. Ginebra just had too much to allow that to happen. I knew that we were going to be treated to a shootout between those two guys, but it just wasn’t going to happen today. KJ naman.

Then, out of nowhere, it happened.

Romeo decided that he didn’t want to lose. He was going to do anything and everything in his power to make sure that he was going to win that game. Or at least try until the final buzzer. Picking up his team and putting it on his 5’11″ frame, the reigning UAAP MVP slowly, but very loudly, cut the lead down bit by bit.

I mean, bro, the kid was killing it out there. Beyond the arc, swish. 15-17 foot jumpers, got it. Attacking the basket with an extremely athletic Chris Ellis on him, hoop and the harm. It didn’t matter how, where, or against who, he was going to score whether Ginebra liked it or not.

With four minutes to go in the game, GlobalPort was in the lead, 93-91. This game was already crazy. It was already the best weekday game we’ve had all conference long. Then, Mark Caguioa seemed to have had enough. He was not going to let the youngest player in the league show him up just like that. Mark wanted to show Romeo that he was still the best at taking over games.

Here is how it went down:
Down 2? Here is a cold-blooded three. Bang.
Pressure free throws? No such thing. Makes both.
Double team me? I have a guy on my team that is almost seven-feet tall. Assist to a dunk.
Jumper? You know I got that covered. Money.
Drive to the basket, get contact, make the shot and the charity? Yeah, I got that too.

All of a sudden, it was an eight point lead for the Barangay. Complete takeover. It was magnificent to watch. Terrence Romeo showed that he was good. Heck, he showed that he was better than good. But, Mark Caguioa showed that he is still the best. Romeo earned the respect of Caguioa, but he also learned that there might not be a competitor in Philippine basketball like The Spark.

“Alam mo naman na mas mayabang ako,” shared Caguioa in the post-game interview. “Alam mo naman na mas maangas ako.” Romeo will get there, but he isn’t quite there yet. The Bro knows what is needed to beat his idol now that he has faced-off against him in the bright lights. He just needs to bring that the next time they meet.

In an interview with InterAKTV, Caguioa said, “I told Terrence to keep it up. Let’s do this again.”

Yes, they should, and they will. When they do though, there still won’t be any torches being passed. There wont be a new king in the league. It won’t even be the playoffs yet. But, if the first time these two guys met was any indication, we will all be looking on waiting for the second installment of this showdown.

Photo by Paul Ryan Tan of InterAKTV

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