MANILA: Spectacular as it seemed while it was happening, for GlobalPort coach Pido Jarencio, it was just another day at the office for Terrence Romeo.

“He (Romeo) just played his usual game,” Jarencio told reporters, minutes after his spike-haired and talented gunslinger tossed in a career-high 41 points to shame the Alaska defense and give the Batang Pier a 1-0 lead in their PBA Philippine Cup Final Four series after a 107-93 victory at the Mall of Asia Arena on Monday night.

“I have complete trust and confidence in him,” added the charismatic coach when asked if he really let his 5-foot-11 guard loose in their franchise’s very first semifinal game. “We were up against a great defensive team in Alaska, but Terrence and the other players were very aggressive.”

Romeo dropped 13 points in the first period and helped the Batang Pier establish a 24-6 lead, before draining 11 in the final frame that snuffed out the last of the Aces’ spirited comebacks and give GlobalPort momentum heading into Wednesday’s second game at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

Romeo finished with a 6-for-11 clip from beyond three-point distance, made 11-of-12 free throws and was 6-fot-10 from two-point zone, for clips that gave the Batang Pier the luxury to neglect his night-high eight turnovers in a 40-minute stint.

“Obviously, Terrence struggled today,” Alaska coach Alex Compton could only joke after his defense, which had given every team in the field in the elimination round fits, failed miserably.

“They really played well, they beat us fair and square,” Compton would add after his Aces, the elimination round topnotchers, got their worst drubbing here. “They maximized their talent, and coach Pido doesn’t get much credit for doing that.”

Stanley Pringle again came up with splendid all-around numbers of 14 points, six rebounds and four assists, and Keith Jensen and Billy Mamaril added 12 apiece as the Batang Pier didn’t show any signs of being in unfamiliar terrain and made the Aces look like they didn’t belong.

But Jarencio was quick to point out that winning the series-opener is just what it is, a head start.

“We all know that Alaska is a tough team,” Jarencio said. “This will be a long series. We know it will be a long series.”

The winner of this half of the Final Four will advance to face the survivor of the San Miguel Beer-Rain or Shine series, Game 1 of which will be played Tuesday at 7 p.m. also at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Paul Lee, the man many consider to be the best point guard in the league, will make his first appearance for the Elasto Painters this season after sitting out their first 13 games because of a left knee injury.

June Mar Fajardo, the reigning two-time MVP, will lead the Beermen on both ends.

In related news, Barangay Ginebra will be bringing in a certified gunner as an import for the last two conferences after management had reportedly come to terms with National Basketball Association veteran Othyus Jeffers.

The signing of Jeffers is the most celebrated in the league thus far, especially after the Gin Kings have opted to not maximize the height limit of 6-foot-9 for imports for the coming conference and electing to go with Jeffers.

After having stints with Utah, San Antonio and Washington, Jeffers had seen action in the PBA in 2014, playing just one game for Talk ‘N Text and scoring 38 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in a 105-99 win over Meralco.

After that stint with the Texters, though, nothing has been listed under Jeffers’ resume as far as the continuation of his professional cage career is concerned.

But the 6-foot-5 former University of Illinois at Chicago standout elected to leave because of a reported call from an NBA team and leaving the Tropang Texters looking for a replacement.

To plane in Jan. 17, Jeffers was signed by Ginebra not just for this conference but also for the season-ending Governors’ Cup where management expects him to easily fit the 6-foot-5 ceiling for reinforcements.

Obviously, Ginebra did not go for a tall import because it already has the 7-foot Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar in its frontline.

Rain or Shine has also come to terms with another returnee, Wayne Chism, who will try for the fourth time to lead the Elasto Painters to a title.

Last year, Rain or Shine lost in a thrilling seven-game series against Talk ‘N Text where Chism was crowned the Best Import over the Texters’ temperamental Ivan Johnson.

Denzel Bowles and Rob Dozier are two more former Best Import awardees likely to return for Star and Alaska, respectively, with both having won titles in previous stints.

Johnson, meanwhile, is also being wooed for a return to the Texters, with negotiations going on with his agent and management.