Jio Jalalon showcased his defensive prowess in the second half, fueling TNT's fightback from 23 points down against Meralco in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup.
TNT coach Chot Reyes did not hide his frustration over Jio Jalalon early in the Tropang 5G's match against Meralco in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Wednesday night, Oct. 29.
Jalalon was fielded in for almost five minutes in the first half, where he tallied one point and one rebound against a turnover.
But Reyes is not exactly stingy when it comes to giving second chances.
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So when Jalalon asked for one, Reyes did not hesitate, fielding him to start the fourth period as TNT aimed to come back from a hole as deep as 23 points, 23-46, at the break.
Jio Jalalon makes up for a poor performance in the first half of TNT's match against Meralco. | Photo: PBA Images
He made the most of the opportunity, giving his all this time to help the Tropang 5G secure a 100-98 victory in overtime over the Bolts.
“To be honest, I was really upset with Jio in the first half,” Reyes said during the post-game presser.
“Pero sinabi niya, ‘Coach, babawi ako.’ He said, 'Give me another chance. Babawi ako.’”
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Jio Jalalon makes most of second chance
The pint-sized guard made the first field goal in the fourth, then made a couple of stops in the ensuing plays for a 10-to-nothing run a minute into the frame.
Jalalon poured seven points in that stretch, allowing TNT to tie the game at 74-all.
Rey Nambatac then took over, firing a pair of four-pointers in the final 2:26 to give the Tropang 5G a 90-87 lead before Meralco ace Chris Newsome's triple forced the extension.
Nambatac then finished the job for TNT in the extra five minutes, drilling in the game-winning jumper in the final second that shattered a 98-all standoff and sealed the win.
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In the end, Reyes was pleased with Jalalon's response, emphasizing his ward's pesky defense that enabled TNT to rejoin NLEX at the top spot with their identical 4-1 slates.
“That’s exactly what we’re looking for from Jio: his ability to pressure on the defense, to be a pest. His offense is really just a bonus for us,” Reyes said of Jalalon, who wound up with 10 points, three assists, three steals and one rebound in almost 15 minutes of play.
“He causes a lot of havoc defensively. We forced Meralco to 23 turnovers. I think that’s the key part kaya kami nakabalik. Because we were getting a lot of chances; we’re getting a lot of possessions. 'Yan ang talagang role ni Jio.”
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.