Jio Jalalon doesn’t mind missing out on achieving rare statistical feats as long as Magnolia keeps on winning, just like what happened Thursday night.
The do-it-all playmaker was just a rebound shy of a triple-double with 17 points, nine rebounds, and 12 assists but said that the 119-103 meant so much more as it stretched the Hotshots’ win streak to three in the PBA Governors’ Cup.
“Okay lang kahit hindi. Basta manalo kami,” he said during the postgame press conference at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“Yun lang naman ang hiling ko palagi e, manalo ‘yung team, maganda ‘yung standing. Bonus na lang para sa’kin,” he added.
Jalalon himself played a big role in the win, scoring 11 of his points in the third quarter alone to help Magnolia wipe out a 55-66 deficit and turn it into an 88-79 advantage in their favor entering the game’s final 12 minutes.
The Hotshots, as a whole, scored 39 in the third, and the momentum shifted on their side that ultimately sent the Road Warriors to their second loss.
(C) PBA Images
“Pagpasok ng third, bad start. ‘Yun nga naano ni Coach Chito, nag-timeout siya kaagad. Feel namin na kailangan naming tumrabaho talaga,” he said.
“Grind lang nang grind kasi NLEX is sobrang dangerous din na team,” he added as they faced a team that started out with four straight wins. “Kailangan naming manalo. Binigay namin ‘yung energy namin sa third para makahabol.”
The 30-year-old actually got hurt late in the third quarter but refused to sit out the rest of the match as he wanted to help the team close it out.
“‘Yun nga, pangalawang sprain,” said Jalalon as he also suffered a sprained ankle against Ginebra last Sunday. “Sabi ko nga kay Coach, ‘Okay lang, sige, laban.’ Kasi kailangan namin manalo talaga. ‘Yun talaga mindset ko e.
“Gusto ko manalo ‘yung team kasi nga naghahabol ‘yung standing din. Gusto ko 3-3. Willing talaga manalo. Willing ako manalo. Grind lang nang grind. ‘Yun lang naman ‘yung inaano nina Coach e, laban nang laban,” he closed.
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The second game of each PBA gameday is live-streamed on SMART Sports.
