A championship game is still a championship game for Jeron Teng.
So when De Salle faces San Beda for the title of the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup preseason tournament, expect the prolific guard to play without let-up on Sunday.
The Green Archers face the Red Lions in a ‘champions versus champions’ affair at 4 p.m. at The Arena in San Juan in a fitting windup for the two teams’ preparations for the collegiate basketball season.
The preseason title match is a great opportunity for the UAAP and NCAA title holders to test themselves before the so-called ‘games-that-count’ comes in their respective mother leagues within the next few weeks.
Still, Teng remains keen on winning the preseason crown in a fitting end to the Green Archers’ cycle that saw them win the UAAP men’s championship first, followed by the Philippine Collegiate Champions League.
“A championship is a championship kahit anong tournament pa ‘yan,” said Teng at the sidelights of Saturday’s Master Game Face All-Star Basketball Challenge draft at the Mall of Asia Music Hall.
La Salle won the first two titles of the preseason tournament in 2006 and 2007, but has not won since then. The Green Archers reached the Finals in 2012 but lost to National University.
The Taft-based school failed to make it in last year’s quarterfinals in what turned out to be the final stint of Gee Abanilla as head coach after which he was replaced by Juno Sauler.
“Siyempre, it’s a crucial game. We want the championship. We know San Beda will be a tough opponent for us. We are excited for the match,” said Teng.
Almond Vosotros also shared Teng’s outlook as he wants to have another title before he calls it a career with the Archers.
“Last year ko na, hindi pa ako nag-champion sa Filoil. Magandang opportunity para sa akin para makapag-prepare na rin how we play as a team sa UAAP,” said Vosotros, who will play in his final year with the Archers in Season 77.
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