Jeron Teng: A Gem for the Aces

Alex Compton has nothing but praises for his prized rookie.

The name Jeron Teng isn’t new in basketball. The last name Teng isn’t either. Before Jeron and his older brother, Jeric came into the PBA, there was another Teng in the PBA whose career lasted for 14 years. So it’s no surprise that Jeron Teng is becoming one of the league’s popular players even though he is still a rookie.

And he’s not just an ordinary rookie. Not even close. You see, his own coach with the Alaska Aces, Alex Compton considers Jeron Teng as one of the few bright spots in the new season which saw the Aces failing to 0-2 to open the Philippine Cup.

As Alex Compton said it, Jeron Teng serves as the gem for the struggling Aces. After dropping 16 points on his first game against the Magnolia Hotshots, Jeron Teng exploded for 28 points against the Talk N Text KaTropa when he went 10 for 18 in the field and also grabbed 10 rebounds. He entered 2018 with 22 points and 6 rebounds per game averages- both are team-highs.

While he is definitely one of the promising young stars who will dominate the PBA in the future, you can say nothing negative about Jeron Teng’s work ethic and Alex Compton has been both a witness and a fan of it. According to the American coach, Teng is the team’s gym rat who would stay late in the gym, working on his game despite being told to go home. 

Another key feature of Jeron Teng that Alex Compton liked to point out is that Teng is humble and is always willing to learn unlike other rookies in the past who think of themselves as the bet there were just because they had a stellar collegiate career. 

Conclusion

Don’t be fooled by the Aces’ struggles and their 0-2 record. And don’t forget that the Aces still have Calvin Abueva and JVee Casio on board. Like it or not, it’s only a matter of time until they become a formidable team with Jeron Teng. After all, it has been expected that Jeron Teng will slug it out against Kiefer Ravena in the race for the Rookie of the Year. 

And who knows? Teng might be the missing piece for the Aces to make a return to their winning ways. 

Why is Jeron Teng the Perfect Pick for the Aces?

The former King Archer scored 15 points against Rain or Shine

The Alaska Aces were used to be among the elite teams in the PBA during the past few seasons. This is the same franchise which Tim Cone led to multiple championships when he was still at the helm of the team. However, injuries to key players plus personal issues surrounding Calvin Abueva have struck the Aces during the last season as they ended Governors’ Cup near the bottom of the standings as they ended the closing conference with a 3-8 record. 

Alex Compton and the rest of the Alaska Aces may have missed the playoffs but we all know that Calvin Abueva and company are more than capable of achieving more than just a slot in the semifinals. All they need are two things: Consistency and Health.

When the Aces drafted Jeron Teng, a champion during his last season with the De La Salle Green Archers in the UAAP, there were a few basketball pundits who questioned this move by the Aces. Sure, Jeron Teng is a legitimate scorer as proven by his performances during his stint with the Archers but the Aces are already loaded with scorers and energetic players, to begin with. 

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However, the Aces are also faced with painful realities: Calvin Abueva can’t carry the team on his own. Jvee Casio isn’t the same player as he was during his early years. Vic Manuel, the team’s muscles, has fully recovered from his injury but given his age, he can try but he won’t be the same kind of player that he was once. These realities may require a complete overhaul from top to bottom but given the situation, an overhaul can wait. For now. 

Conclusion

The good news is: Jeron Teng is still young at the age of 23 years-old. He has shown glimpses of what he can do for the Aces during the pre-season games and even scored 15 points to compliment Calvin Abueva’s efforts- leading Alaska to a victory over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. If anything, Jeron Teng can definitely contribute more to Alaska given the opportunity. But then again, that’s if he’s consistent. And healthy.