Jio Jalalon goes through a drill at the 2016 PBA Rookie Draft Combine. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Jio Jalalon said his decision to forego his final playing year with Arellano University was fully supported by the school and his head coach Jerry Codiñera.
Jalalon applied for the PBA Draft as part of the Gilas pool last week not long after the Chiefs failed to win the NCAA Season 92 Finals.
“Yung reason ko para yung sa Gilas talaga kasi ayoko naman yung umo-o na ako tapos bigla akong magba-backout sa kanila, so pinagpatuloy ko na lang kung ano yung nasimulan ko sa kanila. Yung family ko rin iniisip ko, kaya kailangan ko magpa-draft kasi gusto ko silang tulungan,” Jalalon said
“Nagpaalam naman ako ng maayos sa Arellano at kay coach Jerry. Pumayag naman sila sa akin. Sinabi ko naman sa kanila na tapos na yung binigay ko sa kanila and sana mapagbigyan nila ako sa decision ko.”
The 24-year-old Jalalon also said he had already made up his mind to join this year’s draft even before the NCAA season ended.
“Nung natapos na yung finals sa NC, hindi pa ako nagsasalita, sinabi ko lang muna sa sarili ko na itago ko muna na gusto ko na magpa-draft kaya nung nalaman nila coach Jerry na lumalabas na sa Facebook and sa media na mapapa-draft na, doon ko na sinabi sa kanila yung totoo,” he said.
“Sabi naman nila, desisyon ko naman daw and wala naman sila magagawa.”
Jalalon, who led the Chiefs to a couple of finals appearances, would’ve wanted to give his school a title before leaving but said his decision to turn professional was a choice he had to make for the good of himself and his family.
“Hindi naman namin nakuha yung goal namin and parang nagwo-worry din ako doon pero inisip ko na lang yung sarili ko and yung family ko.”