JIO Jalalon was quick to accept the blame to Northport’s 105-104 heartbreaker against Meralco in the PBA Philippine Cup after missing two free throws with the game on the line at the Philsports Arena on Friday night.
The veteran guard admitted he apologized to the entire Batang Pier team inside the dugout after his botched freebies with eight seconds to play cost Northport the win.
READ Quinto winner caps Meralco comeback as Northport wilts from the line
The Batang Pier were protecting a 104-103 lead when Jalalon headed to the free throw line.
“Nanghinayang lang ako kasi kailangan namin yung panalo. Sabi ko nga sa mga teammates ko, kasalanan ko,” said Jalalon, adding he insisted to have the ball in his hands during that crucial stretch of the game.
“Gusto kong kunin yung bola kasi gusto kong ipanalo yung team talaga. Tapos yun pa ang crucial na mintis ko.”
The missed free throws allowed the reigning champion Bolts to regroup as Jalalon touched the ball last while trying to tap it away from Chris Newsome.
Following a timeout, Meralco went to Bong Quinto for the go-ahead basket with time down to the final two seconds.
Will Navarro then missed a fadeaway jumper at the buzzer, allowing Meralco to complete its escape act and improved to an even 3-3 record.
“Sabi ko naman sa mga coaches, it’s my fault kasi hindi naman natin din masabi,” said Jalalon.
The 32-year-old Jalalon was actually a perfect 4-of-4 from the foul line prior to those crucial misses. He made two from the stripe in the final 23 seconds that gave Northport a 104-99 lead.
He finished with 11 points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals in the loss that stretched Northport’s skid to four games for a 1-4 slate.
Overall, the Batang Pier actually shot 45 percent from the 15-foot line (15-of-33), with Navarro, who had a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds, going 2-of-10 from that area.
READ Arvin confirms overseas offers, but open to staying at NorthPort
Sidney Onwubere also failed to connect on two foul shots with 12 seconds to go prior to Jalalon missing his own free throws.
“Yun lang talaga, sobrang hinayang ako kasi nga sanay na ako sa ganung game tapos ako pa yung nagmintis ng dalawa,” said Jalalon, who won a championship with Magnolia in the 2018 Governors’ Cup.
As has been common to players missing free throws that cost their team the win, the first order of the day for Jalalon in practice is to practice his foul shooting.
“Sabi ko nga sa kanila mag-practice ako ng isang daan (free throws). Pero lagi ko naman pina-practice yun. Yun lang talaga ang hindi ko na-shoot,” Jalalon said.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
