MANILA – Jeron Teng is motivated to win his first-ever PBA championship as he joins a loaded San Miguel Beermen squad ahead of the start of the 2023 PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Nov. 5.
The former De La Salle University Green Archers star said he wants to emulate his father, Alvin Teng, who ended his career with nine PBA championships, with some from his time with the Beermen.
“San Miguel has really been my dream team,” the 29-year-old Teng said in an interview with CNN Philippines Sports Desk. “First of all, my dad played there, he won multiple championships.”
“I haven’t won a championship in the PBA so that’s my ultimate goal… The team is really strong. I think we have a good chance of winning (a title),” added the one-time UAAP champion.
Jeron completed his move to the Beermen by signing a two-year contract following a meeting with San Miguel Corporation sports director Alfrancis Chua on Wednesday at the SMC office in Ortigas.
The younger Teng was chosen as the fifth overall pick in the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft by the Alaska Aces and stayed with the franchise until Converge FiberXers acquired it last season.
In the 2022-2023 PBA season, Jeron posted averages of 12.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.2 blocks in approximately 27 minutes of play across 30 games with the FiberXers.
During the offseason, the FiberXers surprisingly released Teng after negotiations for a contract extension fell through. Based on some rumors, Jeron was reportedly requesting a monthly salary of P800,000 for his new contract.
Jeron admitted that he could have joined other Filipinos playing overseas either in Japan or Korea, but he decided to stay in the Philippines after recently marrying his longtime girlfriend Jeanine Tsoi.
“If I’m not married yet I would have given it a thought,” said Jeron. “But now that I’m married, that’s not an option. I want to be with my family, with my wife. I’m really blessed to be with where I am now.”/PN
