Titans’ new king

Set to be picked No. 1, La Salle star Jeron Teng may just provide the firepower AMA Online Education needs to advance to the PBA
D-League playoffs.

“He’s very dedicated,” AMA coach Mark Herrera said of Teng, whom he sees as the logical first choice in the 2016 PBA

D-League Rookie Draft set Dec. 20 at PBA Cafe in Metrowalk, Pasig City.

“I’ve seen him grow since high school [in Xavier] and whenever he plays, he always gives his 101 percent.”

The league fires off with a 10-team field—minus defending champion Phoenix—in the 2017 Aspirants’ Cup on Jan. 19.

After failing to advance to the semifinals in two conferences last season, the AMA Titans earned the right to pick first overall.

“We’re sure that Jeron Teng will be our first pick,” said Herrera.

Teng capped his five-year stint with the Green Archers with a championship and a Finals Most Valuable Player plum in the UAAP Season 79 men’s basketball tournament.

In a decorated varsity career, Teng also won the UAAP Finals MVP in 2013 when he led the Archers’ title romp as a sophomore.

The 6-foot-2 wingman earned a spot in the UAAP Mythical Team four times and also copped the 2012 Rookie of the Year.

Teng is expected to form an imposing duo with the Titans’ double-double machine Jay-R Taganas.

Tanduay, the Foundation Cup runner-up, will select second, followed by Racal, Aspirants’ Cup bridesmaid Cafe France and Wangs Basketball.

There will also be a lottery on draft day for newcomers Cignal, Jose Rizal University, Manuel L. Quezon University and Province of Batangas to determine their draft order.

Guest team Blustar Malaysia will be ineligible to pick in the draft proceedings.

The 128 rookie hopefuls include 15 foreigners with Filipino roots.

Other projected first-round picks are Davon Potts and Robert Bolick of NCAA champion San Beda, Far Eastern University playmaker Monbert Arong, Letran big man Jom Sollano and Southwestern University guard Mac Tallo.—RANDOLPH LEONGSON, Inquirer.net