JIO Jalalon admitted he missed being on the court after playing his first PBA game in about three months for Northport on Wednesday night against Rain or Shine in the Philippine Cup.
“Nakaka-miss talaga kasi six or seven months ako hindi nakalaro,” said the veteran guard.
Actually, Jalalon played for the Batang Pier last January, but was shut down again after the team’s 119-116 loss to Barangay Ginebra in the last Commissioner’s Cup as his back injury acted up again.
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The injury has kept him in the freezer since landing at Northport along with Abu Tratter during the offseason in a trade with Magnolia for Zavier Lucero.
It was while with the Hotshots that Jalalon began to feel the injury.
“Matagal na ito. Naramdaman ko na ito sa Magnolia pa. Nung nalaman ko nasa Northport na ako,” said Jalalon, who will turn unrestricted free agent once his current contract, carried over from Magnolia, expires in August.
“Sciatica pala. So yung nerve sa back ko, kasi nga hardworker, nasobrahan. Doon na nagsimula.”
Slowly but surely, the 32-year-old Arellano University product is regaining full fitness as shown in the Batang Pier’s 113-96 loss to the Elasto Painters in his comeback game.
Jalalon finished with 11 points, six assists, two rebounds, and two steals.
“Nakipag-sabayan na lang ako sa RoS kasi takbuhan. Pini-feel ko yung injury ko pero thankful ako na hindi siya lumabas,” he said.
Jalalon said he’s still on restricted minutes.
“Kailangan i-minimize yung minutes ko, kasi yung nerve ang bigat. Bigla-bigla na lang siyang bumabalik, nawawala, bumabalik. Ganun ang nangyayari,”
“Tinitingnan pa nila, coaching decision na lang kung ano ang plano nila sa akin. Ako naman always ready kung anuman ang plano nila.”
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