The Chiefs continue its surge to the top of the NCAA ladder.
The Arellano University Chiefs broke its three-game losing streak to the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights, taking an 83-74 wire to wire win to send the defending champions to the brink of elimination Friday evening at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
From tiebreakertimes Website: http://tiebreakertimes.com/tbt/jalalon-arellano-send-letran-to-the-brink/65748
By MATTHEW LI
Jio Jalalon flirted with a triple-double once again with 22 points, 14 rebounds, and eight assists.
More important than the stats though was that the Arellano Chiefs were able to secure its Final Four berth after missing the semifinals a season ago.
“Grabe effort. Walang game na hindi close,” Arellano head coach Jerry Codinera reflected about their journey. “Laking relief sa amin na nakuha namin yung Final Four.”
The Chiefs blasted the Knights in the first half. Jalalon sparked an 8-0 rally capped by a triple by Zach Nicholls to give Arellano a game-high 20 point lead, 40-20.
“I was trying to decipher Letran,” the Defensive Minister shared. “They really have character. Hindi sila nag-baback down.”
True enough, the defending champions fought back.
Behind Rey Nambatac and Jom Sollano, the Knights slowly chipped in to the deficit, cutting the lead to just seven (66-73) with 2:25 left in the game.
Jalalon, who might be playing in his final year with the Chiefs, did not want to lose another one to the Knights. The Cagayan de Oro-native scored five of the last eight points of his team, responding to every Letran bucket. Free throws by Arellano’s floor general sealed the win for the Chiefs, 80-72, with 25.8 ticks remaining.
Kent Salado added 12 markers for Arellano while Donald Gumaru chipped in 10 points.
For the Knights, Rey Nambatac led the way with 28 points but needed 26 attempts to do so. Jom Sollano added a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
The Arellano Chiefs (1st, 12-3) look to lock in on the top spot as it faces the JRU Heavy Bombers (5th, 9-7) on Tuesday, September 13 at 2:00pm.
“Importante how we’ll maintain yung positive energy kasi naka final four kami,” Codinera said about his team’s last three games. “Try namin makuha yung Top Two.”
The Letran Knights (6th, 8-8) cannot afford to lose a single game. The defending champions face the Mapua Cardinals (4th, 9-5) on the same day at 4:00pm.
The Scores:
AU (83) – Jalalon 22, Salado 12, Gumaru 10, Cadavis 8, Holts 8, Nicholls 8, Meca 7, Flores 6, Villoria 2, Aguilar 0, Enriquez 0, Gupilan 0.
CSJL (74) – Nambatac 28, Sollano 15, Quinto 10, Balanza 9, Calvo 7, Luib 3, Apreku 2, Ambohot 0, Balagasay 0, Bernabe 0, Dela Pena 0.
Quarterscores: 20-10, 45-30, 65-53, 83-75.
Comments