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I still remember the buzz surrounding the 2018 PBA Rookie of the Year race - it was one of those seasons where the rookie class genuinely felt special. Having followed Philippine basketball for over a decade, I've seen my share of promising newcomers, but what made this particular batch stand out was how several players immediately became impact players for their respective teams. The winner, as we now know, was Alaska Aces' guard Jeron Teng, but the journey to that award was far from straightforward. What fascinates me about rookie seasons is how they can set the trajectory for an entire career, and Teng's case proved particularly compelling because he wasn't necessarily the statistical leader in every category.

When I look back at that season, what strikes me most is how Teng managed to stand out in a remarkably deep rookie class that included players like Jason Perkins, Robbie Herndon, and the highly-touted Christian Standhardinger. The numbers tell part of the story - Teng averaged 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists across 35 games while playing about 26 minutes per contest. Those aren't eye-popping statistics by any means, especially when you consider that Perkins actually put up slightly better numbers with 12.7 points and 7.4 rebounds. But statistics rarely tell the whole story in basketball, and this was one of those instances where the intangibles mattered just as much as the box score.

What really impressed me about Teng's rookie campaign was how quickly he adapted to the professional game despite coming from a collegiate system at La Salle that, while successful, played a very different style from what Alaska ran under coach Alex Compton. I've always believed that the transition from college to pros is one of the toughest jumps in basketball, and Teng made it look surprisingly smooth. He showed a maturity in his game that you don't often see in first-year players - knowing when to attack, when to facilitate, and perhaps most importantly, understanding his role within the team structure. His basketball IQ was evident in how he read defenses and made decisions with the ball, something that doesn't always show up in traditional statistics but coaches and veterans certainly notice.

The voting itself reflected how the league viewed his contributions - he received 1,272 points from the media, players, and the PBA office, edging out Perkins who gathered 1,098 points. I remember thinking at the time that the margin was closer than many expected, which speaks to the quality of that rookie class overall. What tipped the scales in Teng's favor, in my opinion, was his consistency throughout the season and his ability to perform in crucial moments. He had several game-winning plays and clutch performances that stuck in voters' minds, particularly down the stretch when Alaska was fighting for playoff positioning.

One aspect that doesn't get discussed enough is how Teng's physical style of play translated so well to the PBA. At 6'2" with a strong build, he could finish through contact in ways that many rookies struggle with initially. I've always appreciated players who understand how to use their bodies effectively, and Teng seemed to grasp this from day one. His defensive effort was another underrated component of his game - he wasn't just scoring; he was competing on both ends of the floor, which coaches absolutely love to see from young players.

The context of Alaska's season also played a role in his recognition. The Aces finished with a 21-16 record and made a decent playoff run, and having watched numerous Alaska games that season, I can attest to how integral Teng became to their rotation as the season progressed. He started 28 of his 35 games, which indicates how much trust the coaching staff had in him despite his rookie status. In contrast, some of the other top rookies were on teams that either struggled more or had deeper rotations where earning minutes was more challenging.

I can't discuss that season without mentioning the interesting dynamic with Christian Standhardinger, who many expected to run away with the award after being selected first overall. Standhardinger put up solid numbers - 13.6 points and 9.3 rebounds in just 21 games after joining the league late due to prior commitments - but the limited sample size ultimately worked against him. In my view, this highlighted an important aspect of rookie awards: availability and consistency over the entire season often matter more than per-game statistics in a partial campaign.

The business side of basketball always interests me, and I found it noteworthy how discussions around that rookie class extended beyond just on-court performance. I recall Ahanmisi adding he already got the nod of Ginebra governor and San Miguel Corp. sports director Alfrancis Chua about the matter, which speaks to how team executives were already thinking about the long-term potential and marketability of these young players. This behind-the-scenes recognition often foreshadows how careers will develop, and in Teng's case, it suggested that his value extended beyond what fans saw during games.

Reflecting on it now, what made Teng's Rookie of the Year season memorable wasn't just his individual performance but how it represented the changing landscape of the PBA. We were seeing a new generation of players who were better prepared for the professional game, having come through more structured collegiate programs and with more exposure to high-level competition. Teng embodied this transition - a player who understood his strengths, worked within a system, and contributed to winning basketball rather than just accumulating personal statistics.

The legacy of that 2018 Rookie of the Year award continues to interest me as I watch these players develop their careers. While some rookies flash potential but never build on it, Teng has established himself as a reliable contributor in the league, which validates the voters' decision that season. His rookie campaign set a foundation that he's continued to build upon, and when I look back at that award years later, it feels like the right choice was made - not just based on statistics, but on overall impact and future potential. That's what the best Rookie of the Year selections should represent: not just who had the best numbers, but whose first season suggested the brightest future.