Shooting stars: Lee and Romeo's budding rivalry 'good for fans'
Rain or Shine guard Paul Lee and GlobalPort gunner Terrence Romeo added another entertaining chapter to their brewing rivalry, with Lee’s Elasto Painters outlasting Romeo’s Batang Pier 104-98 in a thrilling PBA Commissioners Cup encounter on Friday night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
And Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao is convinced the Lee-Romeo battle will serve the pro league well.
"It’s a rivalry that I think will be interesting in this league,” said Guiao following their second straight win in three tries where the 6-foot Lee starred anew with a team-best 25 points, spiked by five triples and a perfect 10-of-10 on free throws, including six inside the final minute.
Romeo, a 5-foot-11 sophomore guard, finished with a game-best-tying 29 points, 14 of them coming in the payoff canto where he drilled in four of his six total treys while nearly helping the Batang Pier overhaul an 18-point deficit.
“That’s just marksmanship between two excellent guards. None of those guys are going to back down,” stressed Guiao, visibly pleased with the shooting battle between Lee and Romeo in the final frame. “And I think that’s going to be a treat for the fans, as long as it does not get nasty.”
Although he figured in a verbal altercation with Romeo in the first half, Lee admitted they just have the same amount of desire to win every single game—and leave it all on the court.
“Gusto lang talaga namin parehas (manalo),” said Lee, who is three years older than Romeo at 25. “Maganda rin naman ‘yun para sa fans kasi iba ‘yung nagko-compete talaga kami sa isa’t isa. After the game, sabi ko lang naman sa kanya na ‘Good game. Ang gaping mo talaga. Nag-enjoy ako, next time ulit.”
Guiao also admitted Romeo gave them “problems” in terms of match-ups, an observation echoed by Lee.
“Challenge talaga sa buong team, hindi lang sa akin kung paano siya i-stop-in. Kailangan talaga siyang pagtuunan ng pansin. Team defense ang kailangan sa kanya kasi mahihirapan talaga ‘pag one-on-one,” said the former University of the East star.
Romeo, also a former UAAP MVP like Lee when he was with Far Eastern U, said he has no reasons to take his rivalry with Lee as a personal matter.
“Kahit anong rivalry man 'yan, kahit anong pisikalan, sa game lang naman ‘yun. Wala na pagdating sa labas,” said Romeo. "Para sa akin, hindi ako nagte-take personally. Parehas lang namin gusto manalo.”
And if he gets another chance to take on Lee, Romeo eyes to gain a different ending, saying: “Sana sa susunod na game kami naman ang makakuha ng isa sa kanila.”
