Jalalon stretches his legs after suffering from cramps late in a crucial game for Arellano. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Jio Jalalon grimaced in pain as his right leg stiffened up at the worst possible time with Arellano’s season on the ropes.
Jalalon had been carried the Chiefs throughout the knockout game against the hottest team in the league in Mapua and only a case of cramps late slowed him down.
The best point guard in collegiate basketball today could only do so much. And on Tuesday, even his career game couldn’t carry Arellano into the Final Four.
“It’s really one of the worst feelings that we wanted to make the Final Four and we lost,” Jalalon said in Filipino. “Last year, we made the Finals but now we feel offended because the Final Four was really our target.”
The explosive 22-year-old saw his career-best 37 points that went with seven rebounds, five assists and five steals go to waste after a 93-75 loss to the Cardinals, who completed this season’s semifinals cast.
“Our big men gave in with Oraeme there for Mapua,” said Jalalon, referring to Mapua’s Nigerian center Allwell Oraeme, who is on his way to becoming only the third player in NCAA history to win the MVP award as a rookie.
“I just heard from my coaches that they feel like I was the only one that’s really playing,” Jalalon, who also shot 13-of-23 from the field, said. “And I can’t do anything about it because that’s just how my teammates are.”
Jalalon, the only Chief in double-digit scoring, fell short in leading his team to the Final Four and the only consolation was he was able to show what he’s capable of with still a year left in his college career.
“I showed my best. I won [the] Most Improved [Player award] last year so I really trained hard to show the world that I can still be better.”