The Arellano University Chiefs almost blew a double-digit lead late in the game, but the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Golden Stags could not fight off the tall Chiefs frontline, as Arellano extended their streak to five games, 89-84, Tuesday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
After scoring 31 points against the Stags in the first round, Jio Jalalon raised the ante, notching a season-high 33 points on 12-for-21 shooting, 4-of-10 from distance, for the Chiefs. He added ten assists, three rebounds, and two steals to his statline.
However, the Cagayan de Oro native had a scary fall late in the third frame as the Chiefs were about to break away.
Jalalon, who led the Arellano charge to gain a 61-52 lead, pressured ball handler Jayson David from fullcourt. After successfully pick-pocketing the Pampanga native, the Bus Driver cruised to a lay-up. However, he was challenged by David, losing balance and hitting his head at the back of the steel edges of the court.
“Pag steal ko at pag-lay up na out of balance ako at natapakan pa paa ko,” said Jalalon, who had knocked down three triples in the third canto. “Sobrang sakit.”
After icing the back of his head, the 23-year-old returned to the game early in the fourth quarter.
“Ako na rin nag-decide kasi he is playing well,” Arellano head coach Jerry Codinera said. “Bad start siya, madaming turnovers pero naka-recover naman siya.”
The Stags, however, found their groove, going on a 12-3 rally to cut the Arellano lead to just two with 6:12 remaining in the game. Baetiong scored all four of his markers in the run that was capped by a Ryan Costelo triple.
Behind the backcourt tandem of RK Ilagan and Costelo, the Stags were able to knot things up at 77-all with 2:45 left. However, the Recoletos cagers could not box out the frontline of the Chiefs late.
A miss by Kraniel Villoria led to a Salado rebound and was fouled by Michael Calma. The Arellano sophomore split his charities, but Lervin Flores crashed the board and gave away two free throws for Jalalon to give Arellano an 83-77 lead with 1:26 left on the clock.
Four straight points by Justine Mercado cut the lead to just a couple of points, but once again the Stags failed to box out. A miss by Salado led to an and-one play for Dioncee Holts to seal the win for Arellano.
“Siyempre second round, very critical ito,” Codinera closed. “We have to be ready kung ano man ang challenge sa amin.”
Flores continued his stellar play with 12 points, nine rebounds, and three swats. Salado added 11 markers.
Costelo led the Stags with 24 points on 7-for-16 shooting, knocking down three triples. Ilagan struggled from the field, however, shooting just 5-for-14 from the field for 14 points.
San Sebastian were without head coach Egay Macaraya for the game as the mentor had to coach the Café France Bakers in their win-or-go-home PBA D-League Foundation Cup semifinals game against the Phoenix Accelerators at the Strike Gym in Bacoor, Cavite. Assistant coach Carmelo Banua presided over the team.
The Arellano Chiefs (8-2) will next face the Benilde Blazers (0-1) on Friday, August 19, at 4:00pm. The Golden Stags (1-9) look to halt their nine-game losing streak on the same day at 12:00nn.
The Scores:
AU (89) – Jalalon 33, Flores 12, Salado 11, Holts 9, Canete 9, Meca 6, Villoria 3, Enriquez 2, Cadavis 2, Gupilan 2, Gumaru , Nicholls 0, Aguilar 0, Rivera 0.
SSC-R (84) – Costelo 24, Ilagan 14, Bulanadi 12, Mercado 8, Calisaan 7, Fabian 5, Baetiong 4, Capobres 4, Serajosef 2, Valdez 2, Johnson 1, Calma 1, David , Quipse 0.
Quarterscores: 9-16, 27-26, 65-55, 89-84.
