JERON Teng only played two games last conference in the 2024-25 PBA Commissioner’s Cup, and saw action for a total of 12 minutes and 29 seconds.
On Saturday, the 31-year-old Teng already surpassed his time on the floor last conference in San Miguel’s first game in the 2025 Philippine Cup where he played 13 minutes and 17 seconds or 47 seconds more than in the Commissioner’s Cup.
More importantly, Teng had vital contributions of six points and four rebounds in San Miguel’s 98-89 win over NLEX. Last conference, Teng only had a grand total of five points and two rebounds in those pair of games against Rain or Shine and Meralco.
READ: COLUMN: Jeron Teng can make SMB better if given the chance
It looks like Teng will get his minutes this time with the way he performed during the pre-conference build-up.
“I think he is deserving to get a lot of minutes because in the last four weeks of training namin, he is doing well,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria.
“Wala kang masasabi sa kanya in terms of attitude and work ethic. First player to come to the practice and last player to leave the practice. And he’s really focused on this game (against NLEX) because I know that he is very confident,” he added.
Austria said Teng was also impressive during the tune-up games, but the thing that caught his attention is his defense.
“I’m happy for him because in our tune-up games, he was able to control the scorers of our opponent. That’s why nakakita ako ng chance na bigyan siya ng time dahil alam naman natin, Jeron is a marquee player before and I want him to get back to that kind of confidence he has before,” he shared.
Austria is so glad about Teng’s performance since he is showing signs of what he once did when he was the main man at Alaska and Converge.
“I’m so happy for him because he didn’t lose his confidence and he keeps on working hard. And some of the players talaga na, namo-motivate niya because ‘yung mga ka-posisyon niya cannot relax because anytime, Jeron will be a good substitute for them,” said Austria.
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