It really helps when your dad has plenty of experience in the PBA.
That’s the case for rookie Jeron Teng. He has his father Alvin – a 16-year pro and part of San Miguel Beer’s 1989 Grand Slam – giving him advice, especially now that the younger Teng is headed for his first-ever PBA Finals.
The 24-year-old and his Alaska Aces will figure in a best-of-seven series with the Magnolia Hotshots for 2018 Governors’ Cup supremacy.
“Sabi lang niya sa’kin is sipagan ko lang inside the court.
“Aside from offense, yung small things like getting rebounds, boxing out, defending – sinasabi niya malaking bagay yun, lalo na sa Finals,” said Teng on Tuesday in the Finals’ presser.
Alvin himself is a decorated figure in the PBA. Nicknamed the Robocop due to his image as one of the best defensive power forwards in his time, Alvin made the All-Defensive Team six times and won a total of nine championships. He hung up his sneakers in 2002, also with Alaska.
And Jeron wouldn’t mind having the same number of championships as his father.
“Siya talaga nag-influence sa’kin to play basketball, and siyempre gusto ko sundan yung yapak niya. Dad ko nanalo siya ng maraming championships, so hopefully I get the same opportunity sa career ko,” added the 24-year-old.
The dream is still far out of the second-generation cager’s reach, however. So for the two-time UAAP gold medalist with the De La Salle Green Archers, he’ll just do his best to enjoy his first-ever Finals experience.
“Super great opportunity for me and I really feel blessed. Not all rookies get to play in the Finals, and I have an opportunity to win the championship pa. It’s really a good opportunity for me and I’m super excited,” he said.
“‘Di ko masasabi kung kelan ako next makaka-get ng ganitong opportunity ulit. So right now I’m just living the moment, I’m gonna maximize it and do my best lang to win a championship for the team.”
