No team has swept the defending champions San Beda College Red Lions after the Pinatubo Trio-era of the San Sebastian Golden Stags.
That was up until last Thursday as Smart Elite ambassador Jio Jalalon willed the Arellano University Chiefs to a 91-72 victory over the Red Lions. This was also the biggest margin of victory against the Mendiola cagers in almost a decade.
During the game, Jalalon delivered one of his best performances of the 91st NCAA basketball tournament. Jalalon dropped game-highs 25 points, eight assists and seven rebounds to lift Arellano to the victory that fanned its Final Four bid. It also clinched Jalalon the ACCEL Quantum/3XVI-NCAA Press Corps Player of the Week award, his second after winning the same honor following a 22-point, eight-assists and six-rebound effort in an 88-84 win also over San Beda in the first round last August 18.
Jalalon shone the brightest in the first quarter when he exploded for 11 points that set the tone for the rout as the Chiefs handed the reigning five-peat champions their worst defeat of the season since an 80-93 setback to the Letran Knights in July.
Jalalon, 23, however, said it was just coincidence that he excelled when faced against San Beda. “Galit ako sa sarili ko, hindi sa San Beda dahil galing kami sa dalawang talo na kayang kaya namin ipanalo,” the Smart Elite ambassador said after the game.
Jalalon bested fellow Smart Elite ambassadors for this week’s crown:
Tey Teodoro (JRU)
Week average: 32 points (career-high), 10/22 FG, 50% 3FG%
Win over: Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates
Bradwyn Guinto (SSC-R)
Week average: 25 points, 11 rebounds, 40 minutes
Win over: University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas
