Meralco leaned on Chris Newsome and Jordon Varnado to repel Blackwater, 120-115, in a Tuesday night thriller at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium to notch a win so crucial in their PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup quarterfinal hopes.

Varnado finished with 31 points on top of seven rebounds and seven assists, while Newsome produced 24 and six boards as the two came through with crucial plays down the stretch to save the Bolts after losing a 20-point lead.

‘Newnew’ put them ahead with a three-point play, before Varnado dished out a nifty pass to a cutting Cliff Hodge, who followed up with a layup off a strong drive for a 7-0 run toward a 118-113 lead with 42 seconds left.

The Bossing tried to threaten by cutting the gap to only a single possession, 118-115, but couldn’t pull off crucial stops as Varnado went on to seal the deal with a perfect trip to the free-throw line with only 7.9 seconds to spare.

(C) PBA Images

“A lot of heroes from us,” said Coach Luigi Trillo. “Credit to Blackwater; they went small, gumamit ng players who can switch. It worked at nakahabol sila.”

Meralco has overtaken Blackwater at the No. 4 spot in Group B by improving to 4-5, with its foe dropping to 3-6 after losing its second game in a row.

“Magrarambulan pa ‘yan eh,” Trillo said about the scenarios in their stacked pool, which is currently led by Magnolia (6-3) followed by Rain or Shine and Phoenix, whom they will be facing this Friday to finish their group phase run.

“But at this point, we just need to control what’s in front of us, which is Phoenix. You know, point differential comes into play that’s why even in that last play we tried to score … we take this W and we move forward to the next one.”

Bong Quinto supplied 15 points and nine rebounds plus three assists. Hodge, sporting protective eyewear after undergoing eye laser surgery, made 12 points and eight rebounds, while Jason Brickman chipped in 10 and six assists.

“We fought tonight. Wonderful game we played,” said Varnado, who also had two steals and two blocks. “Give Blackwater credit; they came back, they kept fighting, we just sustained the lead and just kept fighting and finished it.”

(C) PBA Images

Sedrick Barefield had 31 points and five rebounds to lead the Bossing, who fell to 3-5 and is now sharing the same record with Barangay Ginebra.

Kentrell Barkley made 29 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists. RK Ilagan and Dalph Panopio added 15 and 11, respectively, in the defeat, which was their second to Meralco in this conference after losing in the first round, 116-114.

The Scores:

Meralco 120 – Varnado 31, Newsome 24, Quinto 15, Hodge 12, Brickman 10, Mocon 9, Bates 7, Banchero 6, Cansino 6, Almazan 0

Blackwater 115 – Barefield 31, Barkley 29, Ilagan 15, Panopio 10, Una 9, Tratter 7, David 5, DiGregorio 3, Escoto 3, Murrell 3, Demusis 0, Austria 0, Cruz-Dumont 0, Mallillin 0.

Quarterscores: 32-36, 68-58, 97-86, 120-115

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At 34, Jio Jalalon believes that his time in basketball is soon coming to a close, thus the new mindset he has since recovering from back surgery.

The former PBA Press Corps Defensive Player of the Year is trying to make the most of his opportunity with TNT at this point in his career, just like what he did in their rout of Macau in the Season 50 Governors’ Cup on Tuesday.

He notched a rare triple-double of 11 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists in 22 minutes, turning in a performance reminiscent of his exploits during his college days with Arellano University and while proving his worth early in his pro career.

“I’m thankful and grateful kasi ito naman ‘yung ano ko ngayon sa buhay ko. Like, alam ko patapos na ako sa basketball sa PBA,” he said moments after the Tropang 5G’s 142-27 mauling of the Giant Pandas for their third win in a row.

“But, gusto ko lang matapos ‘yung career ko na ganito, like ganito, ‘yung trabaho na natatapos ko. Yun ang inaano ko sa sarili ko, na every day mag-improve lang ako one percent, so gusto ko lang magtrabaho.”

It’s quite a surprising musing from Jalalon, for he appears to have more years of solid basketball left, although it is understandable at the same time, considering that he went through chronic sciatica, which put some doubts on his future.

That injury was the reason why his form dropped for a time, pushing him to have it repaired surgically as a way to address the issue and to continue playing.

Months later, he’s definitely feeling better, so much so that he was able to register his third PBA career triple-double on Tuesday following a thorough check by the league’s chief statistician, Fidel Mangonon III, through records.

It was, furthermore, his first triple-double in the last three seasons, becoming the fourth active local player to tally three triple-doubles after Chris Ross, former league MVP Scottie Thompson, and rookie Juan Gomez de Liano.

“Sobrang tagal na,” reflected Jalalon, who recorded his first two triple-doubles during his time with Magnolia. “Sabi ko nga sa sarili ko, nakaka-miss mag-basketball. Kaya ito na ‘yung ano ko, na wala akong regret na sa buhay.

“Na maglalaro lang ako; kung ano ‘yung trabaho ko, sige, pasok lang ako, basta I’m always ready,” added the special Gilas draftee back in 2016.

Maximizing his time on the court is also his way of repaying the trust given by the flagship MVP franchise, especially after signing him to a one-year extension.

“Sobrang thankful and grateful ako kay Boss Jolas and Coach Chot, siyempre binigyan pa rin ako ng work. Blessed ako dahil nandito pa rin ako,” he said.

“Every day pinapakita ko sa kanila na kaya ko pang gawin yung makakaya ko maitulong sa team,” added Jalalon, who was picked up by TNT via free agency a day before Season 50 opened.

“As a role player sa TNT, I’m always ready.”

The post Jio Jalalon grateful for TNT lifeline as he makes most of remaining years appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.

Uganda Gazelles star Janon Jaye Otto has joined Bulgarian basketball club BC Beroe Stara Zagora ahead of the new season.

The 29-year-old American-born forward arrives from Spanish side Joventut, bringing international experience from several leagues across the world.

Beroe announced the signing, welcoming Otto to Stara Zagora as the club looks to strengthen its roster.

“Welcome to Beroe, Giann Otto,” the club’s statement partly reads.

Standing at 183 centimetres, Otto plays at positions three and four and holds a Ugandan passport, making her eligible to represent the Uganda Gazelles on the international stage.

Otto joins Beroe on the back of an impressive campaign in Mongolia, where she won the league championship and was named Most Valuable Player (MVP). She subsequently featured in Mexico, where she also made a positive impression.

Her career has taken her across Australia, Egypt, Spain, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg and the United States, giving her extensive experience in different basketball environments.

Otto’s move to Bulgaria adds another chapter to her international career as she prepares to feature for Beroe in Stara Zagora.

The signing is also a boost for Ugandan basketball, with the Gazelles star continuing to build her profile on the international stage.

The post Uganda Gazelles star Janon Jaye Otto lands Bulgarian move appeared first on Kawowo Sports.