Jio Jalalon was back doing what he does best as he played a big factor in Magnolia’s conquest of Rain or Shine in PBA Governors’ Cup action, Sunday.
The all-around playmaker racked up a double-double of 14 points and 10 assists, and hauled down six rebounds as well to help the Hotshots run away with a 109-98 victory for a 2-0 start into the conference.
“Our first three years, ‘yan ‘yung contribution niya, double-double lagi ‘yan. So it’s an old Jio Jalalon,” said a proud head coach Chito Victolero,
This has been the best outing of Jalalon in the tournament thus far. And somehow, it was bound to happen following a good showing in their debut.
In Magnolia’s 114-87 beatdown of Terrafirma last Wednesday, the 29-year-old finished with eight markers, three boards, three dimes, and three steals.
Jalalon is now averaging 11.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists. And his coach would want him to be consistent with it.
“Kasi during the bubble, it’s on and off for Jio eh. There’s a lot of game na maganda ‘yung game niya sa bubble, meron din namang hindi maganda. But now, consistency, ‘yun ang pinag-usapan namin,” Victolero said.
“And I talked to Jio na, you need to be consistent, ‘yung contribution niya to the team is very vital,” added the former Coach of the Year.
And if it’s any indication that Jalalon’s taking his reminders to heart, Victolero lauded how his guard has improved his assist-to-turnover ratio.
He averaged 4.5 assists but committed 2.0 turnovers in the 2021 Philippine Cup. At present, he’s only had 1.5 TOs while racking up 6.5 feeds.
“Yung kanyang assist-to-turnover ratio, at least naging maganda na,” the 46-year-old bench tactician said.
But most importantly, it’s his energy on both ends which Victolero and Co. really admire from the Arellano University product.
“‘Yung contribution niya sa points, and especially on the energy, coming from the bench, ‘yun ang talagang malaking factor na nabibigay sa amin ni Jio, ‘yung energy niya, at ‘yung aggressiveness niya doon sa depensa.”
