The TNT KaTropa have just assembled one of the strongest backcourts in PBA history after they acquired superstar point guard Terrence Romeo from the GlobalPort Batang Pier.
The trade was made official Tuesday afternoon and announced by the league via Twitter and on its official website.
Romeo, who had been at odds with Batang Pier coach Pido Jarencio, was shipped to the KaTropa along with center Yousef Taha in exchange for Fil-Tongan big man Mo Tautuaa plus the KaTropa's first round pick in 2020 and second round pick in 2021.
TNT now boasts of two of the best scoring point guards in the league as they will now team up Romeo with veteran Jayson Castro in what promises to be an explosive backcourt.
Romeo, who had played his entire career with GlobalPort after being drafted fifth overall in 2013, appeared in only three games in the Philippine Cup after recovering from a knee injury, averaging 17.0 points, but the Batang Pier were eliminated in the quarterfinals. He was the league's leading scorer the past two seasons with averages of 25.4ppg in 2015-16 and 23.2ppg in 2016-17. The trade also reunites him with former college and Batang Pier backcourt mate RR Garcia.
The six-foot-seven Taha returned to the league after a brief absence and averaged 3.8 points in 11 games in the Philippine Cup for the Batang Pier.
Tautuaa, the top pick in the 2015 draft, averaged 7.9 points and 7.3 rebounds in the Philippine Cup, where TNT was booted out in the quarterfinals. Last season, he averaged 7.9 points and 4.7 boards in 58 games.