JIO Jalalon is on TNT Tropang 5G’s unrestricted free agent list - but it doesn’t mean he is on the way to another team any time soon.
The 5-foot-9 Cagayan de Oro spitfire told SPIN.ph that though there was no internal agreement with TNT upon his relegation to unprotected free agency, he isn't wary of being dropped by the team he joined in October 2025.
Explaining his absence, the former Arellano Chiefs star revealed that he finally decided to have his sciatica operated on to finally address the nagging pain and limited range of motion that he said plagued him since his days at Magnolia.
SOURCES SAY No internal agreement between TNT and UFA Jio Jalalon
“Hindi po ako natatakot na bibitawan nila ako. Kasi ako naman po mismo ang nag-request na maibaba ako sa UFA kasi kailangan kong magpa-opera. Nahihirapan na po akong gumalaw sa laro,” said Jalalon of his surgery at the Medical City last April 6.
“Matagal ko nang iniinda itong sciatica ko. Sa Magnolia pa po. Kaya medyo limited ang galaw ko, kaya bumaba din laro ko kung mapapansin nyo, kasi sobrang sakit nya pag umaatake especially sa game at practice,” he said.
“Naoperahan na ako finally and I feel brand-new. In one month, hopefully makabalik na ko sa laro at sa rotation,” he said.
Asked what he felt when he wasn't given the same assurance given by TNT to Jayson Castro and Kelly Williams upon the latters' relegation to the unrestricted free agent list, Jalalon said he understood the situation.
“Hindi naman po kailangan sa akin ng ganun. Kasi ako alam ko rin naman value na naibibigay ko sa team namin. So, regardless po na may ganun (special clause) ako o wala, wala pong problema sa akin yun,” he said.
“Basta ako po, I will make sure na gagaling ako sa sakit ko. Ma-address ko itong matagal ko nang problema, then be back to my real old self,” he said .
Jajalon bared that even during his time with Magnolia, he was already talking to coach Chito Victolero about his ordeal.
Jalalon said the health issue was one of the main reasons why after tallying a career season best of 11.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.1 steals per game in the PBA 2022-2023 season, his numbers dropped dramatically the next two years.
“Yun nga po eh. Kung ano-ano po ang binintang sa kin, pero ang totoo po may chronic sciatica po ako. Sa mga mayroon nun, alam nila ang sakit nun. Kasi kahit nung time ko kay coach Chito (Victolero), sinasabi at dinadaing ko na to. Kaso di naman naniwala,” he said.
Medical reports say that chronic sciatica is 'a nerve compression from herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or structural issues [causing] long-term pain radiating down the sciatic nerve from the lower back, lasting longer than 3 months and recurring frequently.'
“Kaya nagpa-interventional procedure na po ako,” he said, adding the medical expenses were covered by TNT management.
Meanwhile, TNT coach Chot Reyes assured that Jalalon will always be an integral part of the team and that they are not ready to let him go, especially after he recovers from his minor surgery.
“Jio is a one-man pressure system. When he’s healthy, he can disrupt opponent’s offense,” said Reyes in a text message to SPIN.ph.
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