TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Terrence Romeo is all pumped up to don the country's colors for the third window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
The TNT guard was sidelined during the first two windows because of a knee injury but now looks ready to suit up and contribute in any way he can - should he make the final lineups - in the matches against Chinese Taipei on Friday and Australia on Monday.
"Actually I'm a bit nervous because I'm still not at 100 percent. I came back to help the team out, I want to play international basketball again. We'll see what happens, but I'll give my best," he told ESPN5.
The last FIBA-sanctioned event Romeo played for Gilas in was the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup in Lebanon. In that tournament, he averaged 17.8 points, 1.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists, while shooting 44% from the three-point area.
Romeo is still trying to get back in the swing of things after missing a huge chunk of the PBA Philippine Cup. And though he is expected by fans to shoulder some of the offense against Chinese Taipei and Australia, he said he won't try to force anything and will find ways to become effective within the system.
"I want to help in any way I can even though I am not as fit as I was before. But Jayson (Castro) will be there. Once you follow Coach Chot's system, you'll get opportunities. Andray (Blatche) will also be there [to lift the squad]," he added.
But what Romeo missed the most in being part of the national squad is spending time with his fellow Gilas members.
"It's fun. It feels good to join them again, going on this trip together. I got to bond with them again and have the chance to mess around with them during our free time," he said. "But when it's time to get serious, all of us need to focus [for the task at hand]."
The national team is set to face the home team on Friday at the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium at 7 P.M.
Gilas won the first round against Chinese Taipei, 90-83, on November 27, 2017 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.