Jiovanni Jalalon. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Jiovani Jalalon made the biggest difference for Arellano University as the Chiefs staved off a furious Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) squad, 92-80, on Tuesday in the NCAA Season 91 men’s basketball tourney at San Juan Arena.
Jalalon, a Gilas cadet, tallied a superb statline with his first career triple-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds and 15 assists.
“It makes your job easier when you have a point guard like him,” said coach Jerry Codinera of his star guard.
Arellano seemed like it was well on its way to a convincing rout after firing a 13-1 run in the second to turn a 30-22 affair to a 43-23 lead. But Sidney Onwubere kept the Generals fighting and even trimmed the deficit to nine, 85-76, with three minutes left in the fourth.
However, time just ran out of EAC as Arellano improved to 2-1.
Zach Nicholls led the Chiefs in scoring with 18 markers on a 4-of-9 shooting from threes, while Allen Enriquez chimed in 11.
Onwubere was the lone bright spot for EAC (0-3) with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and five steals.
The scores:
ARELLANO 92—Nicholls 18, Jalalon 12, Enriquez 11, Holts 9, Bangga 8, Gumaru 8, Salado 6, Cadavis 6, Meca 4, Tano 4, Ortega 2, Zamora 2, Capara 0, Ongolo 0
EAC 80—Onwubere 26, Adoum Abba 11, Morada 8, Munsayac 8, Hamadou 7, Mejos 4, Corilla 4, Estacio 4, Pascua 3, Bonleon 3, Pascual 2, Diego 0, Mallari 0
Quarters: 22-14, 51-33, 74-59, 92-80