ALASKA has brought back rookie Jeron Teng back to its active roster list in time for a vital PBA Commissioner’s Cup game against Phoenix on Friday.
Teng was reactivated 24 hours before the 4:30 p.m. match at the Astrodome as he replaced fellow freshman Davon Potts, who was relegated to the injured/reserve list.
The highly-touted rookie is expected to suit up for the first time since getting involved in a melee at the BGC parking lot that left Teng with three stab wounds in different parts of his body.
“We just reactivated him. Will see if he can play or not,” was Alaska coach Alex Compton’s curt reply when asked if Teng will play against the Fuel Masters.
Teng returns to action more than a month since the incident that also left former La Salle teammates Norbert Torres and Thomas Torres with stab wounds. Norbert Torres has since returned to action for Rain or Shine.
A few hours before the brawl, Teng scored eight points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and had two steals in a 109-103 win over the Globalport Batang Pier.
Along with Teng, also making a comeback for Alaska is import Diamon Simpson, who takes over the place of Antonio Campbell in the team’s final game in the eliminations.
Alaska does need the warm bodies as it guns for the No. 2 seeding and twice-to-beat advantage heading into the playoffs.
The team is currently deadlocked with TnT Katropa at second place with similar 7-3 marks, although it has lost its last two outings, including a 105-86 rout at the hands of Barangay Ginebra in Campbell’s final game with the Aces.
A loss by the Aces could hurt their chances as they could end up finishing as low as No. 4 in the quarterfinals and face the No. 5 in a best-of-three series.
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