Teng ready when called

It didn’t take long for Jeron Teng to show up after he was a DNP for San Miguel Beer in Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals against Barangay Ginebra last Sunday. In Game 2 the other night, Teng was named Best Player after compiling 13 points, five rebounds and three assists in 15:20 minutes as SMB stunned Ginebra, 93-84, to even the series at a win apiece. Game 3 is set at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.

“Ginebra is always tough,” said Teng, now on his eighth PBA season. “To close out a series like this, it has to be a total team effort. We have to bring out our A-game and understand that everyone needs to step up and be ready.” In Game 2, Teng said he was brought in mainly for defense. “I started at the four position guarding Ralph Cu then switched to guarding RJ (Abarrientos),” he noted. “Later, our coaches asked me to help bring up the ball and set the offense. RJ happened to be guarding me at that point so I just tried to post up when I could, trying to create opportunities for my teammates.”

Teng, 31, said sitting out Game 1 wasn’t an issue, his third DNP this conference. “I’m just grateful for the chance to be out there,” he shared. “I care a lot about our team and about winning so when my name was called, my mindset was simply to give everything I had, to give double effort to help our team in any way I could.”

For Teng, playing for SMB is a different experience from his previous teams Alaska and Converge. “There’s a lot of talent and a lot of guys who’ve earned their place with the team long before I arrived so I have nothing but respect for them,” he said. “I understand my role as a defender and I’ve fully embraced it. I constantly challenge myself to guard whomever I’m assigned, always being ready whenever I’m called, bringing energy, defending hard and making the most of whatever opportunity I get.” Teng singled out team captain Chris Ross as a major influence. “Chris is a great leader,” he added. “He leads by example and is always checking in on everyone. Having a veteran teammate like him really makes a positive impact on the entire team.”