MANILA, Philippines — It's standard for Gilas Pilipinas practices to end with the familiar ring of "Laban Pilipinas, puso!" piercing through the gym. But on some nights, there will be a cake or cupcakes with candles on them for birthday celebrants from players, coaching staff to the team utility.
On Monday, March 14, it was star guard Terrence Romeo’s turn blow out the candles.
Though nursing a sore right calf and not participating in this week's practice, Romeo received a surprise birthday cake during the night's final huddle as Gilas sung to their usual slow and gloomy version of the "Happy Birthday" song at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center inside Ateneo de Manila University.
Romeo, who has been part of the national team since last year, turns 24 on Wednesday, March 16.
Gilas assistant coach and Alaska head coach Alex Compton will also celebrate his birthday on Wednesday.
{source}<div id="fb-root"></div><script>(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script><div class="fb-video" data-allowfullscreen="1" data-href="/janecena/videos/vb.586149789/10153612186054790/?type=3"><div class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/janecena/videos/10153612186054790/"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/janecena/videos/10153612186054790/"></a><p>Terrence Romeo gets a birthday greeting + a cake from Gilas Pilipinas! Terrence Bill Romeo Smart Gilas Basketball Gilas Pilipinas Army</p>Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/janecena">Jane Yvette Bracher</a> on Monday, March 14, 2016</blockquote></div></div>{/source}
Watch how Gilas greeted Romeo in the video above! — Rappler.com