SMB's Leo Austria admits feeling guilty about benching Game 2 hero Jeron Teng in series opener

San Miguel head coach Leo Austria admitted he felt guilty for not fielding Jeron Teng in the series opener, a decision that was rectified when the veteran guard was given the opportunity to rise to the occasion in Game 2 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals.

Teng, a non-factor last Sunday when the Gin Kings pulled off a 99-90 win, proved to be the game-changer in Game 2, sparking the Beermen to a 93-84 triumph that tied the series to one game apiece.

It was a clear response to the challenge set by the seasoned tactician. 

"In the first game, I was not able to use him because of something in my mind. Guilty-ng guilty ako na nu'ng first game hindi ko siya nagamit. After that game, kinabukasan sa practice, I told him 'Be ready'," Austria said on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

"Sabi ko sa kanya, 'Your time will come anytime' and it happened today."

(In the first game, I was not able to use him because of something in my mind. I felt so guilty that I was not able to use him in the first game. After that game, the next day in practice, I told him 'Be ready'... I told him, 'Your time will come anytime' and it happened today.)

Teng entered the game with 3:20 left in the third quarter to replace another veteran guard in Chriss Ross, who was hurt in the previous defensive play. 

That gamble for San Miguel proved to be effective as Teng eventually fueled their fourth-quarter breakaway all while guarding the explosive RJ Abarrientos. 

The former La Salle standout mounted a personal 6-0 run that allowed the Beermen to extend a slim 74-71 lead to an 80-71 separation halfway through the fourth period. 

He then sank two freebies before converting a layup off a June Mar Fajardo pass. Teng returned the favor, issuing back-to-back dimes that led to a Fajardo basket and a Mo Tautuaa layup as San Miguel built a comfortable 88-77 cushion with 3:27 left. 

He finished with 13 points all in the second half together with five rebounds and three assists. 

Austria praised Teng’s fourth-quarter performance, saying it demonstrated his professionalism and readiness to make an impact whenever called off the bench.

"I have to appreciate him because he's really a professional, no question, no complaint," the multi-titled shot-caller added.

"With this performance, he's included in our rotation. He has a different role. Makikita sa elimination na iba 'yung role na ginagawa niya and then I told him in our practice to be ready."

(With this performance, he's included in our rotation. He has a different role. You can see in the eliminations that he was performing a different role and then I told him in our practice to be ready.)

Teng, meanwhile, said he didn’t take being sidelined in the series opener personally, emphasizing that he’s ready to contribute in any way whenever called upon.

"As a player, ang mentality ko right now is just being ready whenever my number is called," he said. 

"And ako naman, I'm just here to help the team with whatever the team needs me to do. I'm all for winning a championship. I owe it to Boss Ramon, Boss Al for putting me in a San Miguel uniform. As a player, I just do what I'm paid to do."

(As a player, my mentality right now is just be ready whenever my number is called... And for my part, I'm just here to help the team with whatever the team needs me to do. I'm all for winning a championship. I owe it to Boss Ramon, Boss Al for putting me in a San Miguel uniform. As a player, I just do what I'm paid to do.)

—JMB, GMA Integrated News