Bad boy Romero still Bolts’ choice

Despite his troubled past, Ismael Romero remains as Meralco’s choice as import in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup starting 11 March.

Bolts head coach Luigi Trillo said they are keen on hiring the 34-year-old Puerto Rican big man, who drew flak after kicking a fallen Nick Demusis of the Zamboanga Valientes during their Dubai International Basketball Championships match last January.

He has yet to issue an apology or any statement to clarify the issue.

With that, Romero was banned from the tournament while sideliners call for his banishment in the PBA as it drew comparison with other bad boys like Renaldo Balkman, who choked teammate Arwind Santos while playing for Petron in the Commissioner’s Cup in 2013.

“I know it happened away and that’s now with Meralco but now that he’s part of our family, he has to carry himself better. He’s just human,” said Trillo, who drew 24 points from the 6-foot-9 Romero in the Bolts’ 79-88 loss to the Ryukyu Golden Kings in the East Asia Super League last Wednesday.

“What he did was wrong and I hope he can apologize. I hope our fellow Filipinos can give him a chance, a second chance.”

Trillo, who has been in the PBA since 2000, said players have been banned at some point but were able to get back in the good graces of the league through good behavior.

“I mean, guys have been banned from our league. Some of the greatest players have been banned from our league and they’ve come back,” Trillo said.

“He just needs to admit his wrongdoing and hopefully meet with Demusis.”

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said he will talk to Romero once his stint as Meralco’s import becomes official.

Romero doesn’t have to look far in the league’s 50-year-history to learn how to redeem himself in front of Filipino fans.

After all, Balkman was able to bounce back as his ban was lifted five years later after getting the approval of former PBA commissioner Chito Salud and current commissioner Willie Marcial.

Balkman led the Beermen to the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup finals but lost to Barangay Ginebra in six games.