A FIFTH straight championship. A stint in the pro league. No matter where, Mikee Romero steers his Harbour Centre, it’s one lofty goal after another for the busy basketball patron.

Romero’s dream of taking his Batang Pier to the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is one that turned heads in the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum held yesterday at the Shakey’s-United Nations Avenue, the first time Romero pronounced such a plan.

Harbour Centre bagged an unprecedented fourth straight championship in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) at the turn of the year, an accomplishment that further buoyed Romero’s drive to apply for a PBA franchise.

“Nakikipag-usap na kami sa PBA. Hopefully, matuloy na ang pangarap na makaangat kami sa PBA,” Romero said.

“Kailangan din na maging palaban ’yung team dahil ’yun ang character namin sa PBL,” he added.

The PBA has allowed teams from the PBL to bring with them some of its players, such were the cases with Tanduay and Red Bull. Welcoat, the last PBL team to enter the PBA, was allowed by the PBA to include only three names.

If given the chance, Romero said he wants to bring De La Salle stalwarts TY Tang, Rico Maierhofer and Jerwin Gaco up to the pros, as well as shooters Jeff Chan and Jonathan Fernandez and sensational Filipino-American pickup Solomon Mercado.

“I’d be happy if they allow me to bring in eight players,” Romero, who also bankrolled the RP team’s gold-winning stint in the 24th Southeast Asian Games, said.

“Sana makaakyat din ’yung mga player namin sa mas mataas na level. Ayaw naman din namin na pag-akyat namin ay kulelat kami. Kailangang maging competitive kami,” he added.

A more immediate goal—and a more plausible one considering their recent display of dominance—is winning another PBL championship. Ergo an unheard-of fifth straight crown.

“We will be going for the five-peat,” Romero said.

The return of Jason Castro and Beau Belga, two key members of the SEA Games title-winning team, will almost certainly fulfill Romero’s guarantee.

Anybody hearing the opposition going, “gulp”?

Romero said his team resumes practice on February 1, adding that he granted his team an extended vacation.

According to Romero, thoughts of making it to the PBA should not affect Harbour Centre’s performance in the coming conference.

“When you win four straight championships, sometimes it makes you think that you’ve had enough. But in basketball, when the opening buzzer sounds, it’s always winning that gets on your mind,” he said.

Mikee has PBA stint in mind for Harbour

A FIFTH straight championship. A stint in the pro league. No matter where, Mikee Romero steers his Harbour Centre, it’s one lofty goal after another for the busy basketball patron.

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