Teng grateful for new opportunity with Mahindra

Jeric Teng. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Looking at this Mahindra stint as his biggest break yet, Jeric Teng is just humbled by his new lease on life.

“I’m happy that I still have the opportunity to play in the PBA,” he said.

Teng finished with three points and a rebound in less than eight minutes on the floor in the Floodbuster’s 94-91 loss to San Miguel Beermen on Sunday.

Though Teng just practiced for four days with the team, coach Chris Gavina fielded in the former Santo Tomas star on the floor during the crucial minutes as his team almost scored the upset.

Even Teng was surprised with the move, but if there’s something he learned from his days with Rain or Shine, it’s that he has to be ready to play anytime.

“My mentality is I have to be ready because anytime, the coach can call me. I just want to be ready. I thought my minutes were already over in the fourth, but when coach subbed me in, I just tried my best to perform at my best,” he said.

With his first game for his new team in the books, Teng looks forward to further blending in with the team in the coming days.

“I’m still trying to know the system of coach and also my teammates. I think I can figure it out in our next practices,” he said.

He also believes that after nearly taking down San Miguel, Mahindra will finally get that elusive win sooner or later.

“I hope so. I hope that we’ll jell more as a team and we’ll do better in the coming games,” he said.