‘Mature’ Jio Jalalon a vital piece of Magnolia success

Magnolia Hotshots’ Jio Jalalon. –PBA IMAGES

At the heart of Magnolia’s sweep of its first six games in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup elimination round is a prolific, high-energy guard who once seemed detached from the team’s vision.

Jio Jalalon has figured prominently for the Hotshots here, helping the club bring its fine form in the off-season exhibition caravan into the tournament and sustaining it halfway through the elimination round.

“You know, Jio is really important for us,” Chito Victolero told the Inquirer. “Skills-wise, talent-wise, you can never really ask for more. But we were hoping for maturity, maturity to understand he’s already a veteran who needs to take charge, and help out Mark (Barroca) and Paul (Lee). We needed that.”

Jalalon, a member of the special PBA rookie draft class held in 2016, immediately impacted the franchise. He became an All Star in his second year and was already an integral cog for the club in its run-up to the 2018 Governors’ Cup title.

He has been a fixture in Magnolia’s dreaded defense, even bagging three Defensive Player of the Year awards—including the latest one handed out by the PBA Press Corps.

On the right path

But with those milestones also came controversy. Jalalon once figured in domestic abuse allegations and was heftily penalized by both the franchise and the league for taking part in several unsanctioned games.

Jalalon has since mended his ways, and that has been evident even on the court.

“He has been bringing leadership as well now,” said Victolero. “He’s become vocal whenever he wants things done on the court. He’s also DPOY for a reason. He has been delivering.”