The Summer of Jalalon continues!
After a near triple-double performance in their quarterfinals outing against the San Beda Red Lions, Jio Jalalon scored 34 points to lead the Arellano University Chiefs in a 94-85 win over the a deep National University Bulldogs squad to book the first seat in the 2016 Filoil Flying V Premier Cup finals.
Outside of his point production, the SEABA champion three rebounds and six dimes to his tally. Fellow Cagayan de Oro-native Kent Salado added 18 markers, going 9-for-12 from the field, three boards, six assists, and four steals.
“Araw-araw na kami naglalaro,” Jalalon reflected after being on the courts since Tuesday capped by a win in the Father Martin’s Cup yesterday. “Buti na lang makakapahinga na kami ng saglit.”
“I always tell them to strive for excellence,” Arellano head coach Jerry Condinera added. “Lagi silang ready. Talagang ever ready.”
After going down 48-41 entering the third canto, Reggie Morido sparked a 10-2 rally to cut the Arellano lead to just a solitary point with 6:40 left in the quarter. Jalalon though, seeing his teammates struggle, took matters into hiw own hands in scoring six points in a 15-4 rally to gain a game-high 65-53 lead.
“Hindi ko in-eexpect yun,” Jalalon said about his 34-point outing. “Hindi kami maka-score kaya kinuha ko na lang yung bola at dinrive ng dinrive.”
The Bulldogs though did not go down without a fight. Led by Alfred Aroga and corner specialist Reggie Morido were able to cut the Arellano lead to three, 84-81, with 2:52 remaining after an Aroga find to Rev Diputado.
With the Bulldogs breathing down their necks, Jalalon, just as he has done for the entire course of the summer, lifted the Chiefs on his back in scoring six points in an 8-2 rally capped by a Kent Salado steal on Chino Mosqueda for a wide-open layup with 1:07 left. Misses by Diputado and Morido ended NU’s Premier Cup campaign.
“Napakalaking bagay nito,” Condinera added. “First time namin makapasok sa finals. Sabi ko nga sa kanila, ‘huwag muna natin isipin yung NC. Filoil muna.'”
Aroga led the Bulldogs with 24 points and ten boards in 24 minutes of action. Reggie Morido knocked down three triples in scoring 18 markers while Niko Abatayo added 11 points.
Even in shooting just 46 percent from the field compared to NU’s 48 percent, the Chiefs, as a whole, knocked down nine triples in the game that negated the Bulldogs’ 36 free throw attempts. Moreover, Arellano had 30 fastbreak points in the game.
The Arellano Chiefs will face the winner of the Green Archers-Blue Eagles tilt on Sunday, June 12 at 4:00pm.
The Scores:
AU (94) – Jalalon 34, Salado 18, Nicholls 11, Flores 7, Enriquez 6, Gumaru 6, Canete 5, Meca 4, Viloria 3, Holts 0, Cadavis 0, Gupilan 0, Aguilar 0.
NU (85) – Aroga 24, Morido 18, Abatayo 11, Mosqueda 9, Diputado 6, Go 6, Salim 5, Yu 2, Aquino 2, Labing-isa 2, Salem 0, Gallego 0, Cauilan 0, Lastimosa 0.
Quarterscores: 20-19, 48-39, 67-60, 94-85.
