JIO Jalalon has found a new home just in the nick of time for the 50th Season of the PBA.
The veteran scrappy guard is now with TNT, as the Tropang 5G further shored up their backcourt for the Philippine Cup.
Jalalon, 32, met with TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa Saturday afternoon, accompanied by his representative Danny Espiritu.
After laying their respective cards on the table, the Tropang 5G management agreed to sign Jalalon to a season-long deal.
The product of Arellano University later joined the Tropang 5G at the Smart Araneta Coliseum for the PBA Season 50 Fans Day.
Jalalon admitted feeling a sigh of relief at having found a team at the last minute, his signing came with almost 24 hours before the new season begins.
"God is great. Binigyan niya talaga ako ng chance na makabalik," he told Spin.ph at the Big Dome.
"Sobrang pressure. Walang offer and lahat puno na yung teams. So nagpapasalamat ako kay coach Chot (Reyes), coach Jolas (Lastimosa), at sa buong management ng TNT na tinanggap pa rin nila ako."
Jalalon said he got a call from Espiritu asking him to attend the resumption of the TNT practice after the team arrived from a pocket tournament in Abu Dhabi.
"Nag-practice lang ako sa kanila kanina. Tapos after nun, pinatawag na ako ni Boss Danny (Espiritu) at coach Jolas," he added.
TNT will be the third team of Jalalon, a former Defensive Player of the Year, since being taken by Magnolia during the 2016 special Gilas draft.
He won a championship with the Hotshots, but was later traded after seven seasons to Northport for big man Xavier Lucero.
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