Jio Jalalon

Jiovani Nacawili "Jio" Jalalon (born August 2, 1992) is a Filipino professional basketball player who currently plays for the Magnolia Hotshots of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Jio Jalalon

No. 6 – Magnolia Hotshots
Position	Point guard
League	PBA
Personal information
Born	August 2, 1992 Cagayan de Oro, Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Listed height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Listed weight	150 lb (68 kg)
Career information
High school	Sacred Heart of Jesus Montessori School
College	Arellano University (2013–2016)
PBA draft	2016 / Special draft
Selected by the Star Hotshots
Playing career	2016–present
Career history
2016–present	Star/Magnolia Hotshots
Career highlights and awards
PBA champion (2018 Governors') 3× PBA All-Star (2017–2019) PBA All-Defensive Team (2017) PBA All-Rookie Team (2017) PBA Mr. Quality Minutes (2017) NCAA Philippines Most Improved Player (2014) 3× NCAA Philippines Mythical Team (2014–2016)
Medals Men's basketball Representing  Philippines SEABA Championship 2015 Singapore Team 2017 Quezon City Team Southeast Asian Games 2015 Singapore Team SEABA Cup 2016 Bangkok Team

Early life

The third of the six children of Vicente Jalalon and Jocelyn Nacawili, Jiovani was born on August 2, 1992 to a poor family in Cagayan de Oro City.[1][2]

His inspiration in playing basketball is the unrealized dreams of his father, whose lack of a proper education and opportunities denied him of a chance of becoming a basketball player himself.[3] Jiovani has a younger brother, Jericho, who also plays basketball.[4]

Jalalon attended the Sacred Heart of Jesus Montessori School in Cagayan de Oro City before he went to Manila to pursue a spot in a college varsity team.[5]

College career

Jalalon first played college basketball for Informatics College in the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (NAASCU), but later transferred to Arellano University to join the Chiefs in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).[6]

During his rookie year, he served as the chief backup to the Chiefs' main playmaker John Pinto. Though he was coming off the bench, Jalalon was the Chiefs’ fourth-leading scorer in the Filoil Flying V Premier Cup.[7]

By his sophomore season, he averaged 12.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 2.8 steals, earning him the Most Improved Player Award and a spot in the NCAA Season 90 Mythical Five.[8] Arellano made its first-ever NCAA Finals appearance, but eventually lost to five-peat champions San Beda Red Lions in two games.[9]

Jalalon improved even more in his third year, making the Mythical Team once again.[10] The Chiefs, however, failed to advance to the Final Four when they lost to the Mapua Cardinals in the playoff game for fourth spot despite Jalalon's 37 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 steals.[11]

In the succeeding season, Arellano made a return to the NCAA Finals but lost once again to San Beda.[12]

Jalalon played extremely well the entire season to clinch his third Mythical Team inclusion. He was the only non-center - and the only local player - to be part of the elite list.[13] Mapua's Allwell Oraeme was named the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP), after accumulating 65.12 points in player all-around value (PAV) to beat Jalalon, who had 57.50 PAV.[14]

The situation prompted the NCAA management to review the way individual awards are to be determined in the future, as many felt that there should have been a separate award for best import, so as to award the MVP to the best local player.[13]

Even before he wrapped up his collegiate career, Jalalon had earned the reputation as the best point guard in Philippine college basketball.[15] His style of play had also drawn comparison to that of PBA veteran, national player, and superstar point guard Jayson Castro.[16]

Amateur career

Jalalon also played in the PBA Developmental League (PBA D-League) during the NCAA offseason. In the league's 2015 Foundation Cup, Jalalon suited up for KeraMix.[17] He joined the Caida Tile Masters during the 2016 PBA D-League Aspirants' Cup.[18]

Professional career

On October 30, 2016, Jalalon was picked by the Star Hotshots in the 2016 PBA draft.[19]

He had an impressive PBA debut, putting up 11 points, five boards, one assist, and one steal in almost 22 minutes off the bench in the Hotshots’ 88-96 loss to San Miguel Beermen.[20] The next game, Jalalon also puts up an impressive statline of numbers as he recorded 13 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal in 27 minutes of playing time in a loss to the GlobalPort Batang Pier. In his third game, Jalalon have another impressive statline as he recorded 17 points, 5 rebounds and 5 steals in at least 24 minutes of playing time in a 99-75 win over the NLEX Road Warriors. [21]

PBA career statistics

Legend
GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high

As of the end of 2020 season[22]

Season-by-season averages

Year	Team	GP	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2016–17	Star	48	22.2	.425	.327	.721	4.3	3.1	1.2	.0	9.2
2017–18	Magnolia	54	23.8	.380	.234	.641	4.7	5.0	1.7	.0	8.4
2019	Magnolia	52	25.3	.377	.281	.732	4.9	4.4	1.7	.1	9.9
2020	Magnolia	12	23.2	.417	.286	.765	4.2	3.3	1.4	.1	8.6
Career		166	23.7	.394	.278	.700	4.6	4.1	1.6	.0	9.1

References

1. "JERSEY STORY: CDO native Jio Jalalon wears No. 6 to keep his family close to his heart". Spin.ph. 20 July 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
2. "Inspired play wins Player of the Week award for Jalalon". ABS-CBN Sports. 11 September 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
3. Olivares, Rick. "PROFILE: What drives Arellano's Jiovani Jalalon?". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
4. "The next Jiovani Jalalon is already in Arellano". ABS-CBN News. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
5. "Gilas Pilipinas cadet team Defeats Singapore – Kagay-anon Jiovani Jalalon is the Top Scorer of the game!". About Cagayan de Oro. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
6. "Arellano's Jalalon named NCAA Player of the Week". ABS-CBN News. 28 July 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
7. "Jiovani Jalalon - AU Chiefs". Spin.ph. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
8. "Jiovani Jalalon who? Know more about Baldwin's surprise choice for Gilas team to Seaba". Spin.ph. 17 April 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
9. "San Beda wins 5th straight NCAA crown". ABS-CBN News. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
10. "Three of five in NCAA Mythical Team weren't in Final Four". ABS-CBN Sports. 24 October 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
11. "Mapua routs Arellano to enter NCAA Final Four". Rappler. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
12. "San Beda sweeps Arellano, regains NCAA crown". Inquirer.net. 11 October 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
13. "NCAA vows changes to MVP selection process, eyes separate award for 'imports'". Spin.ph. 11 October 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
14. "Allwell Oraeme admits he was surprised to beat Jio Jalalon for the honor". Spin.ph. 12 October 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
15. "Arellano coach Codiñera explains why Jalalon is college ball's best PG". Rappler. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
16. "Is Jiovani Jalalon the next Jayson Castro?". Philstar.com. 16 August 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
17. "PBA D-League Foundation Cup unwraps today". Philstar.com. 12 March 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
18. "Collegiate stars at forefront as 2016 PBA D-League unfolds". Philippine Basketball Association. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
19. "Mac Belo to Blackwater, Ferrer to Ginebra, Jalalon to Star in PBA draft for Gilas cadets". Spin.ph. 30 October 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
20. "Solid Jio Jalalon still left in awe by quality of play in PBA: 'Di mo madadaan sa bilis'". Spin.ph. 20 November 2016.
21. "NLEX Road Warriors 75 Purefoods Star Hotshots 99". December 7, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
22. Real GM