The Titans may have lost their first game but they showed that they can compete
Jeron Teng absorbed his first loss in the PBA D-League Tuesday evening as the AMA Online Education Titans were dealt a 73-78 loss to the much-deeper Racal Tile Masters. But even in defeat, Teng and the Titans were holding their head up high as the game proved that they can keep up with the best of the league.
“I felt we could have won the game, it’s just the breaks of the game,” said Teng, who finished the game with another double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds.
“It just shows that we can compete in this tournament. We’ll keep on working harder to get to where we want to be.”
The Titans held a seven-point lead, 63-56, with six minutes left in the game. However, when the Tile Masters, a team composed of some of the best players from the NCAA, clamped down on Teng and Juami Tiongson, the Titans struggled — limited to just three points in the final six minutes of play.
That six minute span showed a glaring problem that has been plaguing the Titans. During their first three games, Teng and Juami Tiongson have accounted for 55.56 percent of their total scoring (149 points out of 268).
The 23-year-old forward though remains hopeful that his teammates, specifically PJ Barua, Ryan Arambulo, JR Taganas, and Genmar Bragais, can find their offense as the season goes deeper.
“Siyempre I’m sure the other players are capable of stepping up. We’re composed of good players,” the 6-foot-2 forward said.
“Marami kami dito. We have to work harder lang.”
And once that happens, Teng knows that they will be part of the upper echelon of the league.
“Mga kalaban namin ‘di basta-basta. They [Racal] have a good squad and muntik na kami manalo,” the two-time UAAP Finals MVP stressed.
“But it shows what our team is capable of doing.”
