Red-hot Jalalon, Chiefs crush Stags

Games Monday

9 a.m. – SSC vs Mapua (Jrs)

10:45 a.m. – EAC vs San Beda (Jrs)

12:30 p.m. – AU vs Jose Rizal (Jrs)

2:15 p.m. – Perpetual vs CSB (Jrs)

4 p.m. – LPU vs Letran (Jrs)

MANILA, Philippines - Jio Jalalon turned in a near-triple double performance as Arellano U rolled to its second straight victory with an emphatic 99-81 romp over San Sebastian College in the 92nd NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.

Jalalon sizzled with 31 points, dished out 11 assists and capped another explosive showing with a career-high eight steals to power the Chiefs past the erratic Stags and into a share of the lead with the San Beda Lions and the Mapua Cardinals in the early going of the tournament.

“I guess we were a little pumped up going into the game. We played relaxed all throughout,” said Jalalon, who dropped a 25-point effort in Arellano’s 83-78 win over Perpetual Help last week.

His back-to-back solid performance also put him in early contention for MVP honors won by Mapua behemoth Allwell Oraeme last year.

“My priority is to help the team win, but I wouldn’t mind winning it (MVP) also,” said Jalalon.

Jom Sollano came off the bench to fire 16 points, helping Letran stave off St. Benilde, 56-52, in the second game.

Sollano, who normed 8.5 points in his first two outings, also finished with nine rebounds as the Knights nailed their second victory in three games to improve to fourth.

“He (Sollano) volunteered and I’m the kind of coach who listens to my players,” said Letran mentor Jeff Napa.

Bright Akhuetie returned from a one-game absence by firing 19 points to steer Perpetual Help to a 58-50 victory over Jose Rizal U as the Altas evened their card at 1-1 while dealing the Bombers their second straight loss.

Earlier, Kent Salado also continued to complement well with Jalalon, scoring 17 points and making six assists and five boards while American Dioncee Holts came off the bench to fire 16 markers.

Rookie Lervin Flores also continued to impress, posting his first double-double effort of 10 points and 13 rebounds to go four assists and two shot blocks.

Flores had eight points, 13 rebounds and two blocks in his debut.

“He provides frontcourt stability with his defense and rebounding,” said Arellano U coach Jerry Codiñera of his prized recruit from Fatima College.

The Stags committed a league-worst 37 turnovers which the Chiefs translated to 43 big points, including 29 on fastbreaks.

San Sebastian, which outlasted St. Benilde, 54-49, last week, fell to 1-1.

The scores:

First Game

Arellano U 99 – Jalalon 31, Salado 17, Holts 16, Flores 10, Meca 7, Enriquez 7, Canete 3, Aguilar 2, Cadavis 2, Villoria 2, Gupilan 2, Gumaru 0, Nichols 0, Alcoriza 0.

San Sebastian 81 – Costelo 15, Capobres 14, Calisaan 12, Bulanadi 11, Ilagan 8, Fabian 5, Mercado 5, Valdez 4, Serajosef 4, Johnson 3, Baetiong 0, David 0, Gayosa 0, Quipse 0, Miguel 0

Quarterscores: 26-19; 46-39; 71-57; 99-81

Second Game

Letran 56 – Sollano 16, Calvo 11, Quinto 11, Nambatac 8, Apreku 4, Balanza 4, Balagasay 2, Bernabe 0, dela Pena 0, Luib 0, Sario 0

St. Benilde 52 – Leutcheu 11, Fajarito 9, Young 9, Dixon 8, Pasamante 7, Sta. Maria 6, Belgica 0, Castor 0, Jj. Domingo 0, Pajarillaga 0, Saavedra 0, San Juan 0

Quarterscores: 13-9; 29-20; 43-35; 56-52

Third Game

Perpetual Help 58 – Akhuetie 19, Dizon 12, Dagangon 10, Ilagan 7, Eze 6, Pido 2, Singontiko 2, Cabiltes 0, Hao 0

Jose Rizal 50 – Teodoro 24, dela Paz 6, Grospe 6, Lasquety 5, AbdulWahab 4, dela Virgen 3, Evardo 2, Poutouochi 0, Caballero 0, Cruz 0, Mendoza 0, Pontejos 0, Salaveria 0

Quarterscores: 14-all; 31-25; 42-39; 58-50