Though depleted due to the injuries of their key players, the Alaska Aces are still getting the job done.
The Milkmen rolled to their second straight victory on Wednesday evening after escaping the win-hungry Blackwater Elite, 103-101. They improve to 2-1, and climb to the sixth spot of the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup team standings.
For Jeron Teng, it’s their ‘we not me’ mantra that’s making wonders.
“Siguro yung ano lang namin, yung ‘we not me’ namin.
“So we don’t rely on anybody. Anybody on the court is ready to play and you know, we’re all about winning,” pointed out the sophomore forward out of La Salle.
Teng himself showed that he, too, is ready to fill in for the sidelined players, such as Vic Manuel, Kevin Racal, Simon Enciso, and Jvee Casio. He produced a personal season-high 18 points on 5-of-10 shooting alongside six rebounds.
“Ako lang siyempre ready lang ako sa every time na ipasok ako sa court.
“Yun lang, I always to give my best and whatever the role the coach is asking me to play I do it. Whatever it takes for us to win,” continued the 24-year-old product of La Salle.
But more than his own outing, the 6-foot-2 Teng is more proud of the way the undermanned Alaska kept themselves in check even as Blackwater staged a comeback.
When the Elite regained the lead, 100-99, with 1:15 left to play, veterans Chris Banchero and Sonny Thoss each made their jumpers to help the Aces take a 103-100 lead with 34 seconds left. And that proved to be the final blow.
“It was a good win for us. Yung composure lang. We just… We still stuck with our system, yung game plans namin. And good thing we made crucial baskets at the end.”
