JIOVANI JALALON saved Arellano University from the brink of elimination by powering the Chiefs to a 98-90 victory over the upset-conscious Emilio Aguinaldo College in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 91 seniors basketball tournament on Tuesday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.
The 21-year-old guard from Cagayan de Oro notched his fourth triple-double of the season with 31 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Zach Nicholls buried four treys to contribute 15 points, while Allen Enriquez and Michael Salado each had 11 for the Chiefs.
The Generals made a late-game push behind Francis Munsayac, Sidney Onwubere, Hamadou Laminou and seldom used Jozhua General to overturn a 13-point deficit, 61-74, to 81-86, with less than five minutes left in the match.
But Jalalon delivered the killer blow by scoring the Chiefs’ last nine points to power Arellano to their 12th win in 18 games and a guaranteed playoff for a Final Four berth.
“Sobrang kinabahan ako dahil bumaba ang lamang namin. Nag-relax kami ‘nung lamang kami. Buti naman ‘yung depensa namin nagawan ng paraan nila coach para straight kaming maka-iskor. Dumepensa kami ng maayos kaya nakabawi kami sa kanila,” Jalalon said.
Onwubere returned from a one-game suspension to lead the Generals with 24 points and nine rebounds. Laminou added 20 points and 23 rebounds, while Munsayac and Fernan Mejos contributed 15 and 13, respectively.
Mapúa, meanwhile, moved within a victory shy of also securing at least a playoff for one of the Final Four slots after beating College of Saint Benilde, 77-72. Mapúa improved to 11-6 won-lost, while Saint Benilde dropped to 5-13.
Image credits: Alysa Salen