Staying ready enabled Jeron Teng to log quality minutes for San Miguel in Game 2 of the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup semifinals, Friday.
The bruising forward played for a total of eight minutes and 45 seconds off the bench and scored seven points, all of which he made in the second half of the Beermen’s eventual 106-96 win over Ginebra to go up 2-0 in the series.
“Coming into the games, I have no expectations if I’m gonna play or not. Pero of course, as a player, I just have to always be ready,” he told reporters moments after the victory at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
“You know, whenever my number is called, I really have to contribute and try to help. That’s what I did,” he added.
“I just stayed ready the whole game and thankfully, I was given the minutes. Kahit paano nakalaro naman ako.”
His primary assignment, according to head coach Jorge Gallent, was to defend Kings guard Maverick Ahanmisi mainly because of familiarity.
The two previously formed a star tandem in Converge before they left the young franchise during the offseason to join their present ball clubs.
Ahanmisi did finish with 13 points but he only shot 6-of-17 from the field, including a measly 1-of-6 clip from three-point area in 32 minutes.
“On Jeron… We knew Jeron was a teammate of Ahanmisi. We made him play defense on him because he was getting open a lot,” said the seasoned bench tactician.
“Jeron did a good job when he was called.”
Teng, though, doesn’t really mind whoever he has to defend, with his focus solely on doing what he’s asked to do the best he can.
“Ang role ko naman here whenever I’m given minutes, kahit sino pa yan, I really have to defend my best. And try to limit the opponents. I know I’m gonna play limited minutes, so I just have to give it my all,” he said.
It’s that very same mentality he’s going with regarding his on-court exposure, whether he has to play longer stretches or shorter periods — or not at all.
“It’s just that my mindset in every game is to always be ready. Kahit konting minutes lang ‘yan it doesn’t matter,” said Teng, who returned to action last January 7 after missing eight games due to a hamstring injury.
“I’m just really gonna give my best and you know, we’re contending for a championship here eh. And I think from player one to 15 or 16, it’s really important so we just have to embrace it and play as a team.”
