Notching a triple-double has been a normal occurrence in the 91st season of the NCAA.
In this season alone, there have been eight triple-doubles tallied and we are just midway through the second round. Perpetual’s Earl Scottie Thompson has more than half of those in tallying five triple-doubles [against CSB, SSC-R, JRU, LPU and AU]. Arellano’s floor general Jio Jalalon has already notched two against Emilio Aguinaldo and Perpetual while San Beda’s Art dela Cruz has had one.
However, two triple-doubles in a game has never been accomplished in Philippine collegiate basketball history until last Friday. The Arellano University Chiefs and the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas endured 45 minutes of non-stop action with the Chiefs going out on top 84-77. In the marquee matchup, good friends and Sinag Pilipinas members Jalalon and Thompson grabbed triple-doubles, with Jio having a statline of 32 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 assists while Scottie had 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists.
To know how rare of having two players grabbing triple-doubles in a single game, we need to go out west to the NBA. There have only been seven times this has happened in NBA history. The most recent occurred last December 3, 2013 with rookies Victor Oladipo of the Orlando Magic [26 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists] and Michael Carter-Williams of the Philadelphia 76ers [27 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists] with Philadelphia going out on top 126-125.
The other six are as follows:
Jason Kidd (Dallas) vs. Clyde Drexler (Houston), April 11, 1995
Jason Kidd (Phoenix) vs. Clyde Drexler (Houston), March 22, 1997
Gary Payton (Seattle) vs. Chris Webber (Sacramento), April 18, 2000
Jason Kidd (New Jersey) vs. Jay Williams (Chicago), November 9, 2002
Jason Kidd (New Jersey) vs. Tracy McGrady (Orlando), February 23, 2003
Caron Butler (Washington) vs. Baron Davis (Golden State), November 23, 2007
Source: Double (basketball) Wiki
After the monumental game, Tiebreaker Times had the chance to speak with Smart Elite ambassadors Jio Jalalon and Scottie Thompson about their monumental game.
Thompson, even in the loss, was proud of his friend’s performance. “Si Jio talaga all-around player talaga. Di ako nagtagaka na naka-triple-double siya,” he proudly said. However, disappointment set in as his team lost at the same time. “Nakapag-triple double nga din ako kaso talo kaya sayang.” Jalalon, on the other hand, said they were just lucky to win the game, “buti na lang talaga pumasok ang mga tira ko and ng mga teammates ko,” a grateful Jalalon said about the game.
The two friends also talked to each other the night before the game with the two trading jokes and well-wishes. “Pag maglalaro kami, nagtatawagan pa nga kami [the night before the game]. Magbibiruan pa, ‘sana pagbigyan mo kami,’” Smart Elite ambassador Thompson quipped. “Pero bandang huli, sasabihin namin ‘laro tayo mamaya at gawin natin ang best natin and may the best team win.’”
The two Smart Elite ambassadors were also hyped-up the night before as this might be the last time they face each other in college. “Bago maglaro kami, na-hyhype kami sa isa’t isa dahil sa mga tao sa social media, inaabangan talaga yung laro namin. Nahyhype kami talaga kaya bawat isa sa amin iniisip na bibigay namin ang lahat,” Thompson added.
However, 4th year floor general Jio Jalalon is cherishing every thing he can learn from Thompson. “Nachachalenge ako sa kanya kasi siya papunta na sa pro, ako may one year pa. Naisip ko siguro kaya ko ang ginagawa niya. Nachachalenge talaga ako sa kanya,” Jalalon closed.
Unless the stars align in the NCAA playoffs, last Friday will be the last time Jio Jalalon and Scottie Thompson face each other as student-athletes. If this was their last encounter wearing their school colors, the two of the brightest stars in collegiate basketball today gave us a masterpiece that will forever live on in the annals of Philippines collegiate basketball history.
