JERON Teng has joined a stacked San Miguel team, but he's willing to settle into a role in order to help the Beermen win more PBA championships, even if it means doing the little things.
Teng won two UAAP titles with La Salle but has yet to capture one in his PBA career that started with Alaska in 2017 and detoured to Converge for one season after the company purchased the Aces franchise.
“Ako, I just fill in the role the coaches are going to give me,” said Teng on Tuesday during the PBA Media Day at One Esplanade. “What’s important is really the goal and that is to win the championship.”
READ: Teng family thrilled as Jeron joins dad Alvin's former team
“Whatever they ask me or they need me to do, I’ll do it whether it’s mga doing the boxing out, definitely whatever it takes for us to win the championship. All have a similar goal. We are here to support and cheer for each other. In San Miguel, we are family here. We are here to win championships,” said Teng.
Teng was signed to a two-year deal after his contract with Converge expired at the end of last season. The former La Salle star joined San Miguel practice a few days ago, but has enough time to get acclimatize since the Beermen’s first game against NLEX won't be until November 15.
“I have three weeks of preparation. What’s good about San Miguel is not only the coaches but also the players. The players are the players that I look up to. Mga kuya ko, they’ve been really helping me adjust faster. They are there to guide me and I’m just open ears sa mga learnings not only from the coaches but sa mga players,” said Teng.
Teng said he is comfortable with the high standards that San Miguel is setting for the team.
“For San Miguel naman, every year, the expectations are really high but we are all for it. I’ve had three practices pa lang and I can say na the coaches are really focused on the goal and the players have good chemistry on and off the court and very eager to win more championships,” said Teng.
Teng 'has to earn his minutes'
Despite the depth of his team, San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent assured Teng will definitely get his minutes if he plays well.
“Jeron is a big addition to our team. I’m sure he is going to help us a lot when he goes inside,” Gallent said. “As of now, he just practiced two to three days. I’m sure he is going to help us a lot. He is going to help us try to win this upcoming conference.”
“He has to earn his minutes. I’m sure he is going to play. But he is going to earn his minutes. If he keeps playing well, then he is going to stay inside the court. But minutes wise, he will get his minutes,” said Gallent.
The 29-year-old Teng is also happy to be playing with his dad Alvin’s former team, and doing so just shortly after getting married to Jeanine Tsoi.
“I’m really grateful na I’m here right now in this situation and I have a good chance of competing for championships. I’m really excited for the upcoming season,” said Teng. “Sinasabi nga ng wife ko siya daw ‘yung suwerte ko kaya ako nasa San Miguel.”
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