After averaging 22 points in his first two games in the pros, Jeron Teng was a non-factor in their skid-ending 103-98 victory over the Meralco Bolts last Wednesday, as he only scored eight points on 2-of-8 shooting from the floor.
“Medyo nangangapa pa ako sa sistema ng Alaska,” admitted the fifth overall pick in the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft.
“It takes time to be 100-percent familiarized with the system.”
But on Sunday evening at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, Teng went back to his old ways, as he regained his groove with 23 points and nine rebounds to help steer the Milkmen en route to a 37-point rout of the Kia Picanto, 102-65.
“Jeron is Jeron. He’s been taking over since he was about probably 8 (years old),” quipped head coach Alex Compton. “He’s just always had a knack for dominating.
“He’s got … ‘Yung katawan ni Alvin (Teng) parang pumunta sa kanya… Brusko.
“He helps us in rebounding, obviously getting to the basket, he draws a lot of contact. And he’s just… the kid’s got a knack for scoring and attacking the basket. We were very happy with the pick we had at number five,” he added.
Despite all the high praises he received, the La Salle great said that it was the Milkmen as a whole who shone in the victory, which improves their win-loss card to 2-2 — good for solo third in the team standings.
“We all played good in this game. We picked it up nung second half,” said Teng, as Alaska outscored Kia 39-5 in the third quarter alone that started the one-sided affair. ‘We all knew we had to step up nung halftime to get this win.
“We needed this win for our next game.”
And with regards to their next game, it would be a tall order as they will face the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, who are coming off a loss to the Blackwater Elite from last Friday. Teng, however, is confident that they can match up with the crowd favorites.
“I think we’re ready for the challenge, we’re up to it,” said the 23-year-old.
“We’re practicing really really hard and I think we’ll be ready by that game.”
