During his time with the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights, current La Salle head coach Aldin Ayo swept Jio Jalalon’s Arellano University Chiefs in their two elimination round encounters. Both games were as close as they could get: a 77-68 win in the first round, and a come-from-behind 87-81 win during the fabled “Kagulo sa NCAA” Friday.
Wearing a different color now, Ayo once again faced the Chiefs in the finale of the 2016 FilOil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup. Jalalon was unstoppable in the first half of the game, scoring 23 first half points, including six three-pointers in the first quarter alone, to give the Chiefs a 42-40 lead at the halfway point of the game.
“Kanina, kitang kita niyo naman na ang hirap pigilan ng bata,” Ayo said about the Gilas Pilipinas cadet. “Siguro, kinapos lang dun sa endgame. Nakaramdam din ng pagod. Pero, one of the best point guards in the amateurs and he’s ripe for the pros.”
Arellano’s High Chief played 36 minutes in the game and finished with a statline of 32 points on 10-for-20 shooting from the field, and 5-for-8 from the foul line; six rebounds, five assists, and three steals. However, with the plethora of La Salle guards covering him, fatigue had set in for the 23 year old floor general as the minutes passed by; ultimately leading to a loss for Arellano.
The 38-year-old head coach shared a story about the time he went out with the Caida Tile Master trio of Jalalon, Letran Knight Rey Nambatac, and former King Blazer Jonathan Grey. “Last Feb or March, lumabas kami nina Jio, Rey, at Jonathan,” Ayo narrated. “Sabi sakin ni Jio, ‘Alam mo ba coach, pag Letran kalaban namin, the night before, yung mga point guard, nilalagnat. Ako rin, minsan, natatakot din ako.’”
Compared to last season, Ayo believes that Jalalon has made huge strides both as a player and as an individual, saying, “If there’s one thing na nakita ko, gustong-gustong niya manalo. Last season, gusto niyang ipakita kung anong laro meron siya. Ngayong napakita na niya, he wants to win a championship.”
Staying true, Ayo still maintains that the Letran Knights will still win the NCAA crown once more this season. “But, unfortunately, hindi pa rin niya makukuha yun kasi Letran pa rin. Mahihirapan pa rin siya kayla Rey [Nambatac] at McJour [Luib],” quipped the Letranite.
