Jenning Leung hardly needed time to adjust to the physicality that the PBA offers, and much of the credit goes to being hardened by the barangay courts.
Much has been said about the 29-year-old being raised in Laguna, but he’s only now opened up about his experiences growing up in Los Banos, including being a regular in leagues in the province.
“My best friend and I — shout-out to him — we played in barangay leagues. So they just bring us there, and we play. It was so much fun,” he recalled.
Aside from various “pa-liga” stints, Leung played high school basketball at Brent International School in Mamplasan, which contributed significantly to the path he chose, as he is now enjoying a professional career.
It was also with the Lions where he became known to the PBA’s winningest mentor, as he was teammates with Tim Cone’s son, Kevin.
“His son was a year below me,” recalled Leung.
“We’re on the same high school team, and I think we won a championship together. Kevin’s a great guy!”
(C) PBA Images
Leung himself was a standout at Brent, and one of his dreams was to play in Asia’s pioneering professional league. That opportunity could have come earlier in his career, as he was being recruited by top collegiate programs in the country.
Being classified as a foreign student-athlete did affect his chances. But that didn’t stop him from pursuing a career in basketball, and soon he would find himself playing for McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Fast forward to now, and Leung has become a seasoned pro in this part of the world. He also has a chance to realize his PBA aspirations after signing up for Macau, a guest team for the Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup.
It wasn’t an ideal start for him and the Black Knights, however, as they lost their first seven games. But they all kept the faith that the breakthrough would come.
Finally, it did on Tuesday night. The crew put an end to its dry spell by taking down Titan Ultra, 119-197, with the 6-foot guard himself leading the way.
Leung submitted a league career-high 32 points behind an excellent 7-of-10 shooting from three-point distance. But it was more than just an offensive masterclass from him; it was a display of perseverance at the same time.
The same perseverance he picked up while playing — and making a name for himself — in barangays during his younger years in Laguna.
“It’s just pride,” he said.
“We were knocking on the door for a couple of wins. And we have a lot of pride that we don’t want to keep losing. Every game’s a chance to get a win, so we came together and got the win.”
