As expected, the Arellano University Chiefs blew out the still-listless College of Saint Benilde Blazers, 70-59, to create a logjam for second place in the NCAA Season 92 Seniors Basketball Tournament, Friday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Jio Jalalon bucked a slow start, scoring 12 of his 16 points in the third frame to lead the Chiefs. The Gilas Cadet also filled up the stat sheet with seven rebounds, six assists, and four steals.
“Pag dating pa lang dito sa court, sinabi ko lang na kelangan namin mag-enjoy,” said Jalalon, who had a skip in his step during the game. “Kinausap ko nga si Salado na maglaro para sa teammates namin. Tulungan namin sila dahil mahirap mag-underestimate ng ibang team.”
The Chiefs quickly opened frame, limiting Benilde to just four first quarter points as Arellano finished the quarter with a 16-4 lead.
Arellano’s lead went to as low as eight points early in the third canto, behind the 12 third quarter points of Christian Fajarito. However, the Bus Driver was just getting started. Jalalon led another Arellano surge en route to a game-high 22 point lead, 58-36, right before the quarter ended.
“Yes, I tried to give exposure dun sa mga ibang kasama namin na makakuha ng NCAA experience,” Arellano head coach Jerry Codinera admitted. “Medyo nag-aadjust pa talaga yung iba. Sabi namin quality game and don’t look at the score.”
There was no drop-off in the energy supplied by the second and third stringers of Arellano on the defensive end in the final frame, as the Chiefs maintained a double-digit lead up until the final buzzer.
Fil-Canadian Zach Nicholls added 14 points, while Kent Salado scored 11 markers. Big man Julius Cadavis almost notched a double-double with eight points and 12 rebounds.
“Gusto ko lang maka-contribute sa team,” Cadavis said, as he hopes to consistently producing the same numbers the rest of the season.
Two Blazers notched a double-double in the game, with Christian Fajarito scoring 20 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, while Kendrix Belgica added 12 points and grabbed 11 boards.
The Arellano Chiefs (5-2) next face the Lyceum Pirates (3-4) on Tuesday, August 2 at 2:00pm. The Benilde Blazers (0-8) finish their first round campaign against the EAC Generals (2-5) on Thursday, August 4 at 2:00pm.
The Scores:
AU (70) – Jalalon 16, Nicholls 14, Salado 11, Cadavis 8, Holts 6, Viloria 6, Flores 4, Gumaru 3, Meca 2, Enriquez 0, Zamora 0, Canete 0, Gupilan 0 Aguilar 0
CSB (59) – Fajarito 20, Belgica 12, Haruna 9, San Juan 8, Pajarillaga 4, Castor 2, Dixon 2, Sta. Maria 2, Young 0, Pasamante 0, Domingo JJ 0, Domingo JS 0
Quarterscores: 16-4, 30-18, 60-40, 70-59
