Jeron Teng may not be logging major minutes, but he’s certainly making every second count in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.
Coming off the bench, Teng has quietly become a crucial piece in San Miguel Beer’s title push. While his averages through four games—4.5 points and 1.0 rebounds in just 6.5 minutes—might seem modest, his energy and hustle have been game-changers. So much so that coach Leo Austria has made Teng a fixture in the Beermen’s rotation.
“This is the Finals already, and every minute counts,” Teng said. “Whenever I’m on the floor, I just give it everything I’ve got. Thankfully, my teammates have my back.”
With San Miguel now holding a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, the team is just one win away from recapturing the prestigious all-Filipino crown—and Teng’s spark off the bench has been a key ingredient.
His standout performance came in Game 2, where he erupted for 10 points—all in the second quarter—to help the Beermen take a 51-39 halftime lead. San Miguel would go on to win that game, 98-92, leveling the series at 1-1 at the time.
Teng’s impact stretches back to the elimination round, where he averaged 4.9 points and 1.4 rebounds in just eight minutes per contest—numbers that earned him Austria’s trust heading into the playoffs.
Once known as a pure scorer during his collegiate stint with La Salle and his earlier pro days with Alaska and Converge, Teng has since evolved into a more versatile contributor.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to improve my game,” he said. “But right now, my focus is on defense. I want to help the team not just by scoring, but by locking down opponents too.”
With San Miguel just a win away from another championship, Teng’s selfless mindset and relentless hustle may prove just as valuable as the stars’ big numbers on the stat sheet.