Jeron Teng. PBA IMAGES
Though he emerged as the hero for Flying V in its debut in the 2017 PBA D-League Foundation Cup, Jeron Teng shared that he doesn’t have the burden of doing it every game this time out.
“I feel we have more options in this team compared to my previous team, so I don’t force shots anymore because I have great guys who can shoot,” said Teng after the Thunder’s 86-84 victory over Aspirants’ Cup champion Cignal on Thursday.
Still pegged as the go-to guy for the squad, the 23-year-old Teng rose to the occasion as Flying V clawed its way back from 13 points down in the first half.
He scattered 33 points, 12 coming in the fourth period, none bigger than his game-clinching drive against the defense of Raymar Jose in the final 4.3 seconds to cap off Flying V’s rousing comeback to start its campaign on the right track.
“We never stopped playing. And I think it showed our character. We did not giving up in those times and instead, stepping up to the challenge,” he said.
Though elated with the triumph, Teng doesn’t want to put too much in Flying V’s opening day victory against a contender like Cignal, nothing that there’s still a lot his team can improve on.
“A win is a win, but we can’t really get overconfident because our goal this conference is greater than just winning the first game,” he said. “We really have to stay focused and keep our eyes on the prize and continue to work hard.”
Flying V returns to action next Monday against Gamboa Coffee Mix.