SA KATATAPOS na Season 76 ng UAAP Men’s Basketball Tournament, kung saan nagwagi ang De La Salle University Green Archers laban sa University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers ay lumutang ang pangalan ng magkapatid na Jeric at Jeron Teng who played on opposing sides. Pinatunayan nila ang kasabihang blood is thicker than water. Magkalaban man ang kanilang koponan ay nanaig pa rin ang kanilang pagiging magkapamilya. It was said that when DLSU won the coveted UAAP crown, Jeron, who was named the Final’s MVP, looked for his Kuya Jeric.
Naging magkalaban man sila sa UAAP finals, they’ve also experienced playing on the same team during their high school days at Xavier. Kuwento ni Jeron, “I think we’re good naman na teammates din kami kasi noong Xavier days, magkasama rin kami. Naglaro na kami together and we won the championship naman for our school. ‘Pag magkalaban kami, maganda rin. Siguro depende na lang. Kahit ano, okay lang sa amin. Bahala na si God.”
With their newfound popularity ay ang kaliwa’t kanang television guestings at interviews. Tinanong sila dati kung okay ba sa kanila na sumabak sa showbiz. Sinabi ni Jeric na ang focus muna niya sa ngayon ay ang pag-aaral at basketball but he is willing to entertain the idea of going into showbiz if and when the opportunity presents itself. “If I would be given a chance, if off-season, why not, ‘di ba?”
Biro naman ni Jeron, “Siguro, depende na lang iyon kung sino iyong mga ka-loveteam. But while I’m in La Salle, I just want to focus on basketball and iyong studies ko talaga. Kasi in La Salle, I’m taking up two major courses, so nagfo-focus lang ako doon.” He recently made his teleserye debut as Allen Chua in Got to Believe where Chichay (Kathryn Bernado) swooned over Allen as he displays his basketball skills.
Hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon that athletes have been considered “showbiz”. Ilan sa mga ito ay ang magkapatid na Phil at James Younghusband. Nariyan din sina Alvin Patrimonio, Freddie Webb at marami pang iba.
Sina Jeric at Jeron ay mga anak ng former PBA player na si Alvin Teng who was one of the top defensive stoppers during his time in the PBA. Jeric and Jeron owe a lot to their father who passed on to them their love for the game. He also taught them that the attitude they bring to the court is just as important. “Talagang nire-remind niya kami na our height is normal, na marami kaming ka-height. And he tells us also that there are more talented players than us, so we have to out-work them. Hard work talaga iyong pinaka-edge namin kumpara sa ibang players.”
Dagdag pa ni Jeron, “Iyong dad kasi namin tinutulungan talaga kami to improve our game talaga.”
Kaibigan, usap tayo muli!
Points of Boy
by Boy Abunda
