Back in 2016, Jayson Castro took Jiovani Jalalon, who had then been playing for the Arellano University Chiefs, as his understudy during the build-up of the 2016 SEABA Cup. Castro taught him the tricks and made him a better leader who helped the Chiefs finish as runners-up in the NCAA Season 92 Seniors Basketball tournament.
After that, however, the two never played on the same team, as Jalalon was drafted to the Star Hotshots. The two have been opponents on the court ever since — until this Sunday, that is. The two floor generals — dubbed the present and the future of the PBA — will finally don the same uniform, as the 24-year-old Cagayan de Oro native was named to the SEABA 12 last Friday.
And no one was more proud to see Jalalon make it than Gilas’ eldest statesman Castro.
“Hindi naman ako na-surprise kasi alam naman natin si Jio at yung laro niya,” the 30-year-old shared.
“Sa international, proven na siya.”
Jalalon was part of the 2015 SEABA and SEA Games teams that won gold in Singapore, and the 2016 SEABA Cup championship team in Bangkok.
Besides Castro and Jalalon, the SEABA 12 will be composed of five other battle-tested Gilas veterans, two neophytes, and two young guns in Matthew Wright and Roger Pogoy. And the composition of the team is balanced, according to the six-time PBA champion.
“Maganda kasi well-balanced yung line-up and at the same time, yung mga guard nagfo-focus sa defense. Tapos may shooters like Matthew Wright na nagma-mature na,” Castro said.
Moreover, the future of Gilas is well-covered, as seen in Gilas’ stunning 122-111 win over Castro’s Luzon All-Stars.
“Maganda kasi makikita mo talaga yung composure nila hindi nawawala nung buong game. Kung ano yung pinapractice namin, ginagawa nila,” observed Castro, who finished the game with just two points and five assists in just 22 minutes of action.
“Maganda ito para sa amin.”
