PBA: Jeron Teng always ready when called upon

San Miguel Beermen’s Jeron Teng in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

At the heart of what head coach Jorge Gallent calls San Miguel’s “Death 15” in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup are high-caliber players who have embraced their roles.

Among them is Jeron Teng, a swingman who used to be a starter for Alaska and Converge.

Teng finished with seven points, two assists and a steal in just under nine minutes—his output greasing a second-half counterattack led by Marcio Lassiter that eventually held off defending champion Barangay Ginebra and helped the Beermen to a 106-96 win for a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five semifinal series last Friday.

READ: San Miguel sweeps Ginebra to book PBA Finals berth

“Actually, coming into games, I had no expectations whether I was gonna play or not,” he said. “But as a player, I just had to be ready. Whenever my number is called, I really have to contribute and help. And that’s what I did.

“[M]y mindset in every game is to always be ready. I’m just really gonna give my best and you know, we’re contending for a championship here,” he added.

Teng’s output was his finest in his first San Miguel conference that was earlier also hampered by a hamstring injury.

READ: PBA: Jeron Teng ready for any role with stacked San Miguel

The fifth overall pick in the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft said his outlook has been reinforced by pride—one that he has manufactured through his formative years watching his father Alvin, who was once one of the club’s many standouts throughout the ’90s.

“Every time I wear and represent San Miguel means a lot to me because I’m not only playing as ‘Jeron Teng.’ I always carry my dad’s name,” the younger Teng said.