With the Arellano University Chiefs primed to take pole position and the twice-to-beat incentive that comes with it as they enter the post-season, head coach Jerry Codinera is still scrambling to find a consistent scorer that can complement the Cagayan de Oro-tandem of Jio Jalalon and Kent Salado.
Jalalon and Salado have accounted for more than half of the Chiefs’ output across the board this season. Arguably the best backcourt in collegiate basketball today, the two combined for 35 points (42 percent of the team’s scoring), 11.7 rebounds (25 percent of the team’s rebounding), 10.4 assists (57 percent of the team’s assists), and 3.4 steals (57 percent of the team’s steals) per outing. Moreover, the two shot 462 of the 1002 field goal attempts the team has had so far.
For the Defensive Minister, he is still looking for any Chief who can be consistent enough to sustain the energy given off by his two guards.
“Actually, on and off. Like this time, si Gumaru naman after so many games siya naman and tapos si Allen,” Codinera said after Arellano’s 79-68 win over JRU. “And then sa other games iba naman.”
“Hindi ko alam kung sino [ang sco-score], inconsistent pa kung sino ang third and fourth guy namin.”
Next to the two, the team’s third leading scorer is Lervin Flores at 9.6 a game, but is solely focused on rebounding. Then there’s a steep drop-off to Dioncee Holts’ 6.9 points per game.
With the Final Four looming, the 49-year-old has made it his goal to bring out the consistency that he needs from his bench crew. However, even he admitted that it will be a tough task to do so.
“Mahirap hanapin yung ka-tandem nila, yung makakasama nila sa takbuhan,” he furthered.
“Hindi puwede yung Ferrari, KIA Pride lang ang makakasabay nila.”
