MANILA, Philippines – Jiovani Jalalon has gotten used to playing heavy minutes, and barely getting any rest, during his stint with Arellano University in his NCAA career, in which he twice helped the Chiefs reach the Finals of the men's basketball tournament.
Jalalon was a veritable iron man in Season 92 of the NCAA, at times playing entire halves with barely any rest. In one game, he banged his head on the metal edge of the court at the San Juan Arena and had to be subbed out, only to return some five minutes later.
Yet he knows all too well that this won't be the case when he gets to the PBA, where he has been reportedly taken by the Star Hotshots in the special draft for Gilas Cadet players.
If Jalalon is indeed taken by the Hotshots, he joins a team that has a plethora of guards, including Paul Lee who was acquired in a trade from Rain or Shine in exchange for James Yap. Still there are Mark Barroca, RR Garcia, and even Alex Mallari, who moonlights as a point guard from time to time.
New Star coach Chito Victolero said this glut of guards is a good problem to have, and Jalalon is aware that he will have plenty of veterans to compete with for playing time.
"Alam ko talaga na maraming point guard doon," he said. "Siguro, tiisin ko na lang, kasi as a rookie, 'di ka naman basta-basta pag nasa PBA ka na. Lahat ng mga player na magagaling, andoon na eh."
"So ready lang ako, kung ano man ang ipapagawa sa akin," he added.
Jalalon plans to take his cue from good friend Scottie Thompson, who was drafted by Ginebra last year. Like Jalalon, Thompson also played heavy minutes in the NCAA for University of Perpetual Help, but found himself being slowly eased into the league by head coach Tim Cone.
It wasn't until the third conference that Thompson was really unleashed, and he proceeded to wow the Ginebra fans with his non-stop activity. Thompson registered a triple-double in the Governors' Cup, and played a huge role in the Gin Kings' run to the championship.
Afterward, he offered some advice to Jalalon – to stay patient
"Nabasa ko nga din," Jalalon said. "At sabi ko sa sarili ko, ganoon din naman talaga pag rookie ka."
"Nakikita ko siya, noong una n'yang sabak, 'di rin talaga (pinapalaro). Noong pangalawa, nagulat ako na grabe na ang oras niya," he added. "So ayun, grabe ang pinakita niya."
Jalalon won't know for sure until Sunday if he will indeed join the Hotshots, and so he said he is just staying ready for any possibility.
"Sabi ko, kahit saan na lang na team," he said. "Wala ka namang magagawa kung sino ang kukuha sa'yo. No choice eh. Ready na lang ako, sabi ko sa sarili ko, kung anong team."
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