Give And Go
By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
In just four games in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), I must say that Alaska Aces rookie Jeron Teng has made a good impression on me, making a believer in this writer that he could well be the next franchise player for the storied ball club.
To come clean, I was not really high on the former De La Salle University stalwart making waves early in the pros.
Sure he can shoot the lights out in every arena he plays in but I just felt that he still needed to added further dimension to his game to really make a name for himself in the PBA.
The league certainly has been littered with explosive scorers and/or star players coming from the collegiate and amateur ranks only to find themselves struggle in the pros and have short-lived careers.
It is the same sentiment I have of Teng’s fellow rookie Raymar Jose of Blackwater. But lo and behold, the two are proving my “worries” wrong.
Key to Teng’s early success and solid performance has been the tremendous support and confidence the entire team is giving him.
Of course, it is as if it is unwarranted. After all, he is a first-round pick of the team.
Teng, who has been starting for the Aces, has been repaying the confidence given him, averaging a steady 18.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals.
His play has been in synch with the rest of his teammates that include resident star Calvin Abueva, JVee Casio, Chris Banchero, Sonny Thoss and Vic Manuel.
They have his back on the court and Teng has theirs to help the Aces (2-2) find their footing in the ongoing Philippine Cup after starting the tournament with two straight losses.
“PBA-ready” was how Alaska coach Alex Compton described his rookie in one of his recent interviews and having had the chance to follow Teng in his first four games I am not going to dispute that.
Built-wise, Teng has the body to bang it up with the “big boys” of the league much like his father and former PBA player Alvin.
You have to love his court sense and winning mentality, apart from the inherent talent to ball, as he does not get rattled easily and always find ways to impact the game on both ends of the court.
Add to that how seemingly he is not too caught up with himself and expresses willingness to learn from his veterans and coaches.
As things stand, the Aces are in good standing with Teng in tow. His was a draft pick well-used and the team could have well found a “keeper” to anchor the franchise moving forward.
Michael Angelo S. Murillo has been a columnist since 2003. He is a BusinessWorld reporter covering the Sports beat.
