Tey Teodoro. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
With Jose Rizal University facing an early slump after a morale-boosting opener against Arellano, coach Vergel Meneses was looking for the right combination to calibrate the Heavy Bombers’ long run.
Fortunately for him, one of his expected key guys finally stepped out of his slump and delivered back-to-back big games for the Heavy Bombers.
READ: NCAA: JRU scores 3rd straight win
Tey Teodoro, one of Meneses’ designated gunners, finally found his shooting form last week.
He scorched Lyceum with 16 straight points in the payoff period to deliver the Heavy Bombers a 75-60 win over the Pirates. He finished with 25 points on a 4-of-11 shooting from threes, to go with seven rebounds and four assists.
Teodoro followed it up with an all-around performance of 21 points, eight rebounds, and three steals on Tuesday to once again lead JRU, this time to a 67-49 rout of St. Benilde.
READ: For more collegiate sports updates, visit INQUIRER Varsity
“I’m happy that he’s now taking charge,” said Meneses.
Teodoro knows the important of consistency if the Heavy Bombers want to replicate or surpass last year’s Final Four finish.
“Basta kami kailangan namin maging consistent para umangat. Wala kaming time mag-relax dahil sinasabi sa amin ni coach, marami pa kaming makakalaban at kailangan namin mag-compete,” said Teodoro.
(For us, we need to be consistent so we can rise. We have no time to relax because coach has been telling us that we still have to face a lot of teams and we need to compete.)
Vested with a huge responsibility by Meneses, Teodoro took the challenge to heart and promised to continue his aggressiveness in the hopes of extending the Heavy Bombers’ three-game winning run.
READ: NCAA 91: Teodoro’s hot shooting lifts JRU to 1st back-to-back Ws
“Once na bigyan ka ng malaking responsibility, kailangan laro ka lang at sumunod sa game plan ng coach,” he said. “Sabi ni coach sa next games kailangan nya pa rin ako, pero kailangan ko mag-create para sa teammates ko.”
(Once they give you a big responsibility, you just have to play and follow the coach’s game plan. Coach told me he needs me in our next games, but I still need to create for my teammates.)
“Basta ako, ready to play lang (For me, I’m just ready to play.).” CFC