Jio Jalalon wasn’t shy to admit that Magnolia’s 2019 Philippine Cup Finals loss to San Miguel hurt them badly.
It is tough to accept losses like the ones the Hotshots suffered. They were on the way to ending the Beermen’s four-year reign when they built a 17-point lead in the third frame, only for San Miguel to spoil their party.
And if anyone knows how painful it truly was, it’s Jalalon. He had the golden opportunity to save the Hotshots in the endgame when he was open underneath the rim, but he failed to make his shot.
“Yung Game Seven talaga eh. After nun, may ilang araw… Mga dalawang araw [na] ‘di ako naka-move on.”
But Jalalon and Magnolia did not let themselves drown in sorrow from that crushing defeat to their rivals. They simply trusted the process of moving on, and eventually turned it into one of their motivations this season.
On Wednesday night at SMART Araneta Coliseum – the very venue of their heartbreak– Magnolia faced San Miguel anew, this time in the Commissioner’s Cup. And they showed that they have grown from that loss.
The Hotshots played a near-perfect game on both ends of the floor, venting all their frustrations to their tormentors. They blasted the Beermen by a whopping 36 points, 118-82 – SMB’s worst loss this conference.
Jalalon, of course, could not help but feel so elated that they have managed to get back to the Beermen.
“Dahan-dahan kaming naka-move on. At least ngayon, nakabawi na kami,” said Jalalon, who finished with 16 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds.
“Masarap sa pakiramdam. San Miguel yung natalo namin, mataas ang tingin sa kanila.”
The win was more satisfying for Magnolia since it marked their fourth straight this conference. For Jalalon, he still hopes that the team will keep on growing, as they aim to meet their goal of making it into the Finals.
“Sana makuha pa namin yung mga game situations [at] schemes ng mga coaches. Goal namin makapasok ng Finals.”
