Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero was delighted to see Jio Jalalon finally play his best game so far in the 2021 Honda PBA Philippine Cup.
Quiet for most of the conference, the fifth-year point guard made his presence felt in the Hotshots’ 96-86 semis-clinching win over Rain or Shine in Game Two of their best-of-three quarterfinal series, Thursday evening.
The 28-year-old came off the bench and produced a season-high 16 points on 42-percent shooting. He also had six assists, three rebounds, and two assists.
“I’m happy for Jio,” said the youthful mentor moments after the win at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
“Kasi ‘yung breakout game niya this conference, wala. Hindi pa talaga eh.
“And unti-unti naming nababalik ‘yung kumpyansa ni Jio. Kasi nga from the start of the season, medyo nagkaproblema lang din siya,” he added, as Jalalon figured in multiple off-court controversies during the off-season. “So hindi niya makuha ‘yung… Kumbaga, ‘yung breakout game niya.”
Jalalon finding his touch couldn’t have come at a better time for Magnoila, with veteran floor general Mark Barroca troubled early in the third quarter. Barroca got whistled for a couple of fouls in just a span of a minute.
The 35-year-old only had eight points, although he scored the Hotshots’ last four points to deal the final blows to the Elasto Painters.
Photo by PBA Images
Still, it was the Cagayan de Oro native who made his seniors’ absence bearable. He scored 14 of his points in the second half alone.
“Talagang malaking tulong siya, especially na-foul trouble si Mark. So siya ‘yung nag-lead sa amin sa third hanggang fourth quarter,” Victolero said.
Now, the champion bench tactician hopes that Jalalon will be able to keep this type of play moving forward, especially in the semis. There, they will battle either Meralco or NLEX – teams that gave them problems in the eliminations.
“Sana magtuluy-tuloy na ‘yung laro ni Jio.”
