Jeron Teng (in dark uniform) will add to an already wealthy talent collection at San Miguel. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Jeron Teng’s arrival at San Miguel Beer created an embarrassment of riches for the club, particularly in the wing positions.
But head coach Jorge Gallent would not have it the other way around.
“I’d rather have a strong team than a weak team,” he told the Inquirer. “This is a good problem to have and I thank management for helping me get a nice [squad] that has a chance to win in this coming conference.”
The powerhouse club picked up Teng, son of former San Miguel bruiser Alvin, after the former’s contract with Converge lapsed by the end of the last PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) season.
In Teng, the Beermen adds another offensive option to its 2 and 3 positions, which already have the likes of Most Valuable Player candidate CJ Perez, veteran sniper Marcio Lassiter, and crafty scorer Jericho Cruz slotted in.
“He’s a big addition to our team and I’m sure he’s going to help us a lot when he [steps] into the court,” said Gallent. “He’s going to help us win this coming conference, since we haven’t won this (tournament).”
The last time the Beermen won the Commissioner’s Cup was back in 2019, when Chris McCullough helped lead the club alongside cornerstone June Mar Fajardo and Christian Standhardinger.
The franchise has won the Commissioner’s Cup a total of four times—the most by any club in the league’s history.
Teng won’t be the only new addition for San Miguel, which opens its bid against NLEX on Nov. 15 in Antipolo City.
The Beermen will also bring in international veteran Tyler Stone to anchor their title hopes.
And this early, Gallent has shown a lot of faith in the team’s import, who is listed at 6-foot-8.
“We wouldn’t get him if we didn’t feel he’s not at the same level as (Ginebra’s) Justin [Brownlee],” he said of Stone.
Gallent, however, is well aware that much of Stone’s impact remains to be seen.
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“We’ll have to be lucky if he fits in the team,” he said. “We’ll just have to move through that.” INQ
