PAGADIAN, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR—Jan Jamon stepped up in a big way following a huge brawl that saw five players ejected in Game Two of the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup Mindanao Challenge Finals, Friday.
The captain of Zamboanga Sibugay scored all his 25 points following the Edrian Lao-Cris Dumapig incident at the 4:31 mark of the second period. Gayford Rodriguez, Richmond Bersabal, and Michole Sorela also found themselves thrown out.
More importantly, he lifted the Anak Mindanao Warriors to the championship. They beat BYB Kapatagan in overtime, 89-80, at the Pagadian City Gymnasium here.
“Jan is always consistent. Lagi siyang nagi-step up, pinapakita niya ‘yung leadership niya kaya no question kay Jamon. Malaki ang puso pagdating sa crucial games,” said Zamboanga Sibugay head coach Arnold Oliveros.
Jamon finished with 25 points on a scorching 7-of-14 shooting from the three-point line, alongside four steals.
He heed the call of Oliveros after the brawl, especially with two key pieces in Dumapig and Sorela already gone.
“Nawala si Cris at Sorela sa amin parehong importante. Chinallenge kami ni coach na next man up kung sinong gustong manalo buti nakadeliver,” said Jamon.
But the Siniloan, Laguna native did not take all the credit by himself. Instead, he recognized all the efforts of his teammates that made the championship possible.
Finals MVP Jaybie Mantilla, Shaq Imperial, Rhaffy Octobre, and even seldom-used Jeff Acain and JC Foronda also contributed.
“Thankful ako sa lahat ng teammates ko. Total team effort ito kung mapapanood niyo ‘yung laro namin. Pinakita lang namin ‘yung puso naming lahat.”
And as the captain, Jamon takes pride in that role and strives at it.
“Buti nakikinig naman ang teammates ko sa akin. Sinabi ko lang sa kanila na ibuhos na lahat kasi ayoko na maglaro mamaya,” said Jamon on what could have been a do-or-die Game Three at 8 pm the same day Game Two was played.
