Jeron Teng had to overcome for that one moment
King Archer Jeron Teng was in an unfamiliar place during the first 30 minutes in his last UAAP Finals series.
“We weren’t getting the calls, I wasn’t getting to the line. I felt like there were certain calls that should have been called,” La Salle’s skipper reflected.
For three quarters, Teng struggled. He was just 3-for-8 from the field, scoring only six points — all in the first quarter. Moreover, he accumulated three fouls just in the third canto, getting his fourth foul early in the fourth quarter.
All the while, the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, a team that has tormented him for five years, were making a huge rally. With La Salle up by a solitary point and 37.6 seconds left, Teng connected on an elbow jumper that would have given La Salle a solid one-possession lead. However, the shot was called off. It did not beat the shot clock buzzer.
Even if it was tough, Teng and the Green Archers endured.
“Championship ‘to and we know yung kalaban namin will make runs We just had to stay together and stay composed,” said Teng who is averaging 17.5 points per game.
On the other end, Matt Nieto had just scored to give Ateneo their first lead of the ball game. Then Ateneo were able to gain possession of the ball and were about to steal Game One. But third-year forward Thirdy Ravena slipped, and rookie Aljun Melecio was able to pocket the ball. The ball then somehow found its way to Teng’s hands for a breakaway layup to give La Salle the lead once more with 15.1 seconds left.
“Siguro yung basket, siguro instinct na lang yun. Ben [Mbala] did a good job sealing, so I saw an opening that’s why nakuha ko yung lay-up,” the relieved 22-year-old said.
“Doon sa stop kay Aaron [Black], wala crunch time na yun. Adrenaline na yun.”
For four years, Teng was never known for his defense. But he has had to reinvent himself under the watch of head coach Aldin Ayo, his third coach in five years. Though he credits the game-saving block he made to “adrenaline”, it might have been instinct as well. And maybe a bit of hunger to win.
“I just had to step up.
“I wasn’t getting my flow in the game, and yun, kailangan ko lang bumawi sa defense,” he said.
It might not have been the typical Jeron Teng game everyone expected, the game still ended in Teng fashion. Clutch and emphatic.
