Jio Jalalon goes up for a shot over an FEU defender. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Arellano University hunted down defending UAAP champions Far Eastern University, 92-70, to stay unbeaten in the Filoil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup Saturday at San Juan Arena.
FEU played without big men Richard Escoto, Raymar Jose, and Prince Orizu while Arellano fielded backcourt duo Jio Jalalon and Michael Salado together with versatile big men Dioncee Holts and Allen Enriquez.
Salado gave the Chiefs their biggest lead of the game, converting on a nifty reverse layup to put Arellano up 91-65 late in the fourth.
Even with a huge lead in the fourth, Chiefs head coach Jerry Codiñera wanted his team to end the game in a dominant fashion as he fielded both Jalalon and Salado together with Dioncee Holts and Zach Nichols.
“We have so many games na naabutan kami kahit sa last two minutes,” said Codiñera. “Plus FEU, we don’t know their strengths kasi, champion team yun eh, we don’t know gaano sila kalakas.”
Arellano has learned its lesson from a game in the Ormoc Chamber of Commerce Inc. 1st Invitation Basketball Tournament where they won against University of Visayas, 82-79, but had a scare in the fourth quarter when the Chiefs’ 64-53 lead became a 79-79 tie.
“Basta kami be serious lang.”
Jalalon led the 2-0 Chiefs with 22 points to go along five rebounds while Michael Canete added 15 points and six rebounds while Salado had 14.
Allen Trinidad led the 1-1 Tamaraws with 13 points while Monbert Arong had 11 points and seven rebounds.