Almost an hour had passed since the final buzzer had sounded to mark the end of the 92nd season of the NCAA Seniors Basketball tournament.
On one side of the SM Mall of Asia Arena’s dugout, San Beda were just starting their celebration. “We are a team! Woo! We are a team,” the Red Lions chanted in unison. Exactly two rooms away, the Arellano Chiefs’ side was silent, dead silent. Tears and gloom were visible on the faces of the Chiefs as one by one they left their locker room for the last time this season.
One of the last to go out was High Chief Jiovani Jalalon. The author went to shake his hand but he instead went for a hug with tears running down his cheeks. The weight of carrying Arellano for two seasons has taken its toll.
Jalalon was bruised and battered for the entire season but he fought on, not missing a single game this season
“Sobrang sakit. Hindi ko ine-expect na hindi kami makaka-isa sa kanila,” he said as he tried to compose himself.
After logging 690 minutes, scoring 461 points, grabbing 133 rebounds, and dishing out 162 assists this season, Jalalon, and maybe his collegiate career, ended with another silver finish. And for the second time in three years, the Chiefs were deprived of a single win in the Finals.
“Parang wala [ang lahat], tapos na yung pinaghirapan namin kahit na naka-pasok kami ng finals,” the Bus Driver lamented.
“Jiovani Jalalon is the best point guard in college today.”
It’s not a thesis nor a random opinion, it’s a fact shared by the greatest basketball minds in the country today. From national team head coach Tab Baldwin, to rival coaches Aldin Ayo and Jamike Jarin, to his peers, and even Asia’s finest point guard Jayson Castro, everyone is in consensus that he is the top collegiate floor general of the Philippines.
Entering the 92nd season of the NCAA Seniors Basketball tournament, all eyes were on Jiovani Jalalon.
The main narrative entering the 92nd season of the NCAA Seniors Basketball tournament was whether Jalalon could carry the Arellano University Chiefs to the top of the collegiate mountain. And with rumors swirling around that he might forego his final year for a greater calling — serving national duties for Gilas Pilipinas — this was his make-or-break year. He would either leave college experiencing a championship like his friend Baser Amer, or end his tertiary career with heartbreak like Scottie Thompson, another close friend of his.
All throughout the pre-season and the season itself, the Cagayan de Oro native carried the Chiefs to unprecedented heights. His unselfish play made his team look like world-beaters on certain nights, while on other nights, he simply took over. Watching him was a show in itself as he played the role of magician and assassin all at once. And with his rise, he also lifted the Arellano Chiefs to national consciousness.
But for every hero, there’s an opposing antagonist. Perhaps the biggest foil to his collegiate career was that the mountain was just too high to climb. The beast called the San Beda Red Lions was just too much to overcome.
“Sobrang laki, sobrang dami pa ring kulang sa laro [namin]. Nakita ko naman nag-effort kami, lumaban kami.”
“Sa amin na talaga yun. Kasalanan naming lahat ito. Kahit na maganda pinakita namin… Pero wala hindi talaga para sa amin,” said a defeated Jalalon, head bowed.
All he wanted was to give back to the Arellano University. It was Arellano who had reignited his passion for the game of basketball after having almost given up on the sport four years ago. Guilt and shame clouded him, after a season filled with the highest of hopes and expectations ended with the most painful of heartbreaks.
“Wala talaga akong dapat sisihin kasi lahat kami nagtulong-tulong. Yun nga, hindi namin nakuha ito,” he admitted. “Hindi talaga sa amin yung time na ito.”
“Pero naniniwala ako darating din yung time na makukuha ng Arellano Chiefs yung gusto nila.”
The immediate future of the school’s basketball program depends solely on whether he returns. As much as he does not want the image of him fouling out of Game Two to be his last contribution, he is torn by the temptation to test himself in the pros.
“Hindi naman sana [yun yung huling laro ko sa Arellano] pero hindi ko pa alam ano talaga yung nasa utak ko. Sobrang nag-iisip pa rin ako.
“Yung iniisip ko lang talaga yung family ko,” said the 24-year-old, who has taken full responsibility of being his family’s breadwinner, as the tears he had been fighting back gave way.
And after one final handshake, he finally foud the strength to leave the arena. As he walked to the parking lot, the Arellano faithful asked for photos with him as gratitude for what he has done for their alma mater this season.
And probably for one last time, he still gave himself to Arellano.
