Teng gets rave reviews in solid PBA debut for Alaska

MANILA, Philippines — Lost in the sea of attention toward Kiefer Ravena’s solid first pro game and Paul Lee’s 30-point handicapped showing was Alaska Aces rookie Jeron Teng’s equally solid debut.

The Aces fell to Lee’s Magnolia Hotshots in the nightcap of the Wednesday PBA skirmish at the Flying-V Arena in San Juan, 108-95. But as far as promises go, Teng, in that losing effort, showed tons.

“He did very well,” Alaska mentor Alex Compton said of new ward.

Teng, drafted fifth overall by the Aces in the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft last October, finished with 16 points as a starter. He was 4-of-9 from the field and 8-of-9 from the charity stripe.

“He’s been with us for about six weeks now,” Compton noted. "But for a rookie to come in and you know, get to the line that much? He attacks, he’s so strong right? And he attacks guys with strength, with his wit, his craftiness.”

"Guys just hit him a lot. They just end up hitting him. He does a great job in getting to the line,” he furthered.

READ: Aces trying to regain form, banking on new talents

But Teng, whose father Alvin also played for Alaska in the past, tempered the expectations surrounding him.

“It’s a learning process for me, I'm still getting to know the system,” he shared. “(The team’s) been together for so many years already, so medyo sa defense and offense, kailangan mas fluid (ako); 'yung sistema kailangan pang ma-instill sa akin.”

“The best guys are here already,” he continued. "It’s a big adjustment for me. Ako, as a player, I try to improve on what I can improve just to be able to help the team in whatever way that I can."

Teng doesn’t really have to say how much he has been working on his craft, as Compton, in a separate chat, regarded the second-generation cager as a “gym rat.”

“He’s a rookie so there’s still room to learn…” Compton offered. "But he certainly doesn’t lack effort. Kid’s what we call a 'gym rat.' You gotta say ‘Jeron, go home!' Really, he just stays and works on his game. It’s just great.”

"Don’t be surprised when in a few years, you start saying 'he’s a good shooter.' Then years later you’d say 'he’s a really good shooter.' And then later in his career, he’s like, 'he’s an excellent shooter.' I already see some improvements.”

"And with a guy that physical and strong and quick and shifty? I think he’s gonna cause problems in this league,” the fourth-year head coach declared.

READ: Ravena backing up the hype with stellar debut for NLEX