Mixed emotions for Alvin Teng after Jeron's joy, Jeric's heartbreak

MANILA, Philippines -- Alvin Teng is dealing with mixed emotions after watching his sons give their 100% in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 76 Finals, won by the De La Salle Green Archers, 71-69, in overtime Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Alvin has stayed neutral while watching his sons Jeron and Jeric play for La Salle and the University of Santo Tomas (UST), respectively, and admittedly feels torn now that one son has succeeded while the other failed.

Jeron scored 25 points and won Finals Most Valuable Player, while Jeric scored 24 points but came agonizingly short of winning all the marbles in what was his final game in a UST uniform.

"Masayang masaya (ako) at malungkot, dahil unang-una, si Jeric, nakaka-awa din dahil gusto niyang mag-champion, tapos natalo. Ganyan talaga ang buhay 'di ba, hindi naman pwede na dalawa ang mag-champion," said Alvin after the game.

He added that the three-game series was tough for the family, especially his wife, Susan.

"Ang hirap, dahil parang hindi ka masyadong makapag-cheer sa mga anak mo, dahil dalawang anak mo naglalaro, tapos both teams halos kaibigan ko. Ang hirap," he said.

"Ang nangyari, naging neutral muna kami. Kahit sinong manalo, ayun, good luck sa kanila," he added. "At least buti na lang natapos na rin. Kasi ang nangyari nga, ang sabi baka ma-postpone dahil bumagyo. Eh 'yung misis ko nga, nagkakasakit na dahil stressed na stressed."

"Ganoon din ako, nagi-isip din ako, 'Sino ba talaga ang magcha-champion?' Hindi ko rin alam dahil parehong anak ko gustong mag-champion."

But Alvin, known as "Robocop" during his PBA days, also feels immense pride after seeing both sons give it their all in a game that was watched by a record crowd of 23, 396.

"Masayang masaya ako dahil 'yung laro ng magkapatid, binigay nila 'yung 100% nila," he said.

"Sayang dahil last year na ni Jeric, sana nakatikim siya ng championship. Pero nangyari na eh, so bawi na lang siguro sa susunod," he added. "Pareho sila na gusto mag-champion eh. Kung pwede nga, bibilhan ko na lang sila ng sarili nilang medal."

On social media, both Jeric and Jeron praised each other for a battle well fought.

"Congrats to DLSU. They played really well. And congrats to Jeron for getting the Finals MVP. You deserve it," tweeted Jeric, adding the hashtag "#proudbrother."

Meanwhile, Jeron tweeted: "Props also to my brother Jeric for playing whole-heartedly for UST! For me he's more deserving to be the Finals MVP!"

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Lack of focus, effort doomed UST Growling Tigers

MANILA, Philippines – University of Santo Tomas (UST) head coach Pido Jarencio and star player Jeric Teng believe it was a lack of focus, along with a lackluster effort, that doomed the Growling Tigers in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 76 Finals against De La Salle University on Saturday.

After winning Game 1, 73-72, the Tigers looked poised to claim their first UAAP crown since 2006, but La Salle had other ideas. Behind a dominant performance by their frontline, the Green Archers took Game 2, 77-70, to force a winner-take-all game.

“Ine-expect ko talaga na magiging malakas ‘yung dating ng kabila,” Jarencio said after the game. “Parang na-out of focus din

Jarencio noted that the increased media attention on his team – the first fourth seed to reach the UAAP Finals – may have been a distraction. It also did not help that the Tigers were unable to fulfill the “rituals” that they usually do during games.

“Sa dugout, ang daming tao, maingay,” Jarencio rued. “Sabi ko ‘yung last four games namin hindi ganoon ang atmosphere. Tahimik, naka-focus.”

“May mga ginagawa kaming bagay na hindi namin nagawa ngayong araw, ‘yung mga little things. Katulad nito, dapat mga 1:30 p.m. nandito na kami. Umalis kami sa UST ng 12:30, alas dos na nasa traffic pa rin kami,” he added.

“Mga ritwal na ginagawa namin 'yan. Every time na may game nagro-rosary kami, eh kanina pinutol namin ‘yang pagro-rosary… wala na kasing oras.”

Teng, who fired 28 points to lead all scorers, noted that during the game, the Tigers also lacked focus and were consistently outhustled by the taller Green Archers.

“There were times that we were out of focus, puro reklamo kami,” he said. “La Salle outworked us, they outhustled us talaga sa rebounds. Pati sa 50-50 balls, sila ang nakakakuha, so sila talaga ‘yung mas aggressive ngayong game, kaya sila ang nanalo.”

UST’s championship experience and veteran poise were supposed to be their advantage against La Salle, but Teng admitted that they lost composure during the game.

“May moments, may times na we gave up, nawala ‘yung composure ng team namin. Nagrereklamo kami masyado sa referees,” he said.

Both Jarencio and Teng said they cannot afford to make the same kind of errors in the do-or-die Game 3, set for next Saturday.

“Babawi tayo, ‘yun lang naman kami eh, kapag natalo, babawi. Kapag do-or-die game, iba ang laro. ‘Yan ang team natin,” said Jarencio.

“I told my teammates, we lost today dahil sa effort namin, dahil masama ‘yung effort namin. Pero let’s forget about this, and let’s move on,” added Teng.

Teng is comforted by the knowledge that the Growling Tigers have yet to lose a do-or-die game this season. They won against Ateneo at the end of the elimination round, then stunned the top-seeded National University in the Final Four.

“Charge to experience ‘yan,” he said. “I think we’ve played three do-or-die games, so I think we’re still good sa Game 3. I think lalabas ‘yung pagka-beterano namin.”

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com