MANILA, Philippines – Jeric Teng felt all doors into the PBA have closed on him.

So when he got a call from his former college mentor Pido Jarencio, he made sure he repaid his trust. Immediately.

Against a TNT Wednesday night, Teng got going early, tallying nine points — all in the first half and all coming from 3-point land — to help the GlobalPort Batang Pier to a 99-84 victory.

Asked about his performance, the former UST standout, who has bounced around from multiple teams, said he was riding on excitement: The euphoria hinged on playing again in the PBA and being a cog to Jarencio's machine anew.

"Siyempre gawa 'yun ng excitement talaga na makabalik. 'Yun nga, matagal-tagal din akong nawala tapos galing din ako sa therapy so talagang excited ako coming into this game," the 26-year-old cager said.

"Tapos siyempre added confidence din and excitement din na under coach Pido. Alam ko na 'yung sistema niya so mas confident ako sa ginagawa," he continued.

Teng was drafted in 12th overall by Rain or Shine in 2013, a team he spent three seasons in and won a championship. He moved to play for the Kia franchise in the 2016-17 season but was left unsigned going into this year. He was picked up by Jarencio and the Batang Pier just this week.

Although Teng wasn't able to add to his first half scoring, he went home with a win and with his mentor waxing poetic about their reunion.

"'Yung second group namin [may] Jeric Teng," Jarencio offered. "Ang ganda ng balik dito. Go Uste! Go Uste!"

For Teng, the emotional rollercoaster of momentarily left unsigned, in a way, affords him a new outlook he feels beneficial for his restart.

"Parang rookie ka pero meron ka nang experience. I played four years in the PBA — more or less. Parang first game ko uli pero I had experiences na, lessons na natutunan ko nung nawala nga ako sa PBA. Yet I kept going ... 'Yun ang motivations ko talaga para mag-improve," the cager said.

"Blessing na din that I was given this opportunity and I'm gonna make most out of this," he said, as if making a promise.

Teng and the Batang Pier — who are not firmly latched on the seventh place in the Philippine Cup — have three more games to play in the elimination phase: against Magnolia, Kia and Phoenix.