Jeron Teng is embracing the opportunity of playing for a team with a family-like atmosphere after he was selected as by Alaska in the first round of Sunday's PBA Rookie Draft at Robinsons Place Manila.
Alaska used the fifth overall pick to draft Teng, who was projected to the third best player in the draft after Christian Standhardinger and Kiefer Ravena but was bypassed by Blackwater and Phoenix when they went with big men Raymar Jose and Jason Perkins, respectively.
Teng, nonetheless, expressed satisfaction over hearing his name being called.
"It doesn't matter for me," said the highly-touted son of former PBA cager Alvin Teng. "Sabi ko nga kahit anong pick ako, magiging happy ako. Ito talaga dream ko na mag-PBA ever since bata ako at masundan ang footsteps ng dad ko.
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"Happy ako na napunta ako sa team na maganda ang reputation. Lahat nagsasabi sa akin na in Alaska, they treat players as family, and I'm happy na maging part ako ng family ng Alaska," Teng added.
Aces coach Alex Compton feels they hit the jackpot when Teng was still in the draft board.
"Coming into this draft about a month ago, I didn't think he was gonna be dropping to No. 5?" said Compton. "I mean, I never thought since I saw Jeron in high school I thought this kid's gonna be one of those top picks, one of those 1-2-3 guys.
"He's got a really unique game. He's a different kind of player in a very good way. I think that gives him an ability to really change the game. Now of course, he's gonna be a rookie and it's not on his shoulders to carry us but I really think he can change the game in an immediate impact," added Compton.
Teng, for his part, vows to put more work in hopes of meeting the high expectations.
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"I'm up for the challenge, pero alam ko na PBA level na to so I have to start from zero," he said. "I have to work for my minutes if I have to. Gusto ko talaga i-prove sarili ko dito sa PBA and that's what I'll do." (JT)
