Since graduation, former DLSU Green Archer and team captain Jeron Teng has continued to stay in the spotlight by continually showcasing an improved game. In his latest endeavor, Teng competed in the FIBA (International Basketball Federation) 3×3 World Cup in France.
The Philippines decided to send three top young prospects that the country has to offer. Joining Teng in France were former ADMU Blue Eagle Kiefer Ravena, current California State University-Northridge player Kobe Paras, and current NLEX Road Warrior JR Quinahan, who provided veteran leadership for the squad.
Evolution of the game
FIBA 3×3 was a street game raised to the professional level with the game ending after 10 minutes of play or when a team reaches the score of 21. There were, however, a few changes that FIBA decided to include. The most significant changes were that a team should only have four players, with the fourth being a substitute. Others differences include that initial ball possession was decided by a toss of a coin and the inclusion of a 12 second shot clock to speed up the pace of the game.
The game was first introduced as a test run during the 2007 Asian Indoor Games in Macau and was further tested in the Dominican Republic and Indonesia. It passed with flying colors as it made its international debut during the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics in Singapore, with Teng having his first 3×3 experience in the city-state.
The success of this variation of basketball propelled it into a global phenomenon that led to it becoming an established sport in the Summer Olympics, beginning in the 2020 Olympics in Japan.
Philippines places 11th
The whole journey of the team was a rocky one as the Filipinos placed 11th overall in the tournament. Throughout, they lacked a consistent post presence and had to overcome taller and more experienced opponents.
The team did have highlights, though, with multiple plays by Paras featured on FIBA’s main page. Defense, however, was a big problem for the Filipinos as they had a difficult time keeping up with the size and athleticism of their opponents.
Teng was also featured by FIBA, showcasing his ability to finish off-balance shots and finish through contact. Though the Lasallian had some struggles in terms of defense and handling the 3×3 spec basketball, his strength was something that was apparent even as he faced bigger and more experienced competition.
The most noticeable road block for the team was its lack of experience, even with Paras having the most experience with the FIBA 3×3, having joined the Under-18 World Cup. Playing against veterans of other countries was an uphill task for even the country’s brightest young talents.
With that said, however, the team still had a fantastic performance having an even 2-2 win-loss record, with their biggest margin of victory being seven points against El Salvador. The team, filled with young talent, showed that they weren’t afraid to go toe-to-toe with the best of the best. With that mentality, the future remains bright for each of these players.
From Teng’s perspective, this is just another feather in his cap as he looks ahead to the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Draft. Now, as a player for the Flying V Thunder in the PBA Developmental League, Teng is only going to improve even more.
