THEY were expecting the driver, but instead the conductor arrived.
Still, local cage buffs could expect a reunion of pro-cagers Gio Jalalon and Kentoy Salado, though bound to play for different teams, in the ongoing Tagoloan Open Invitational basketball tournament 2019 at the Tagoloan Dome of Misamis Oriental.
The Oro prides Jalalon and Salado used to be the MisOr fans’ favorite tandem at the Tagoloan Dome during “panalay” days when they were not drafted yet by their respective teams in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
In the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) days with Arellano University in Manila, the backcourt partners were known then as the “driver” and “conductor” for “taking everyone to school”.
However, on Tuesday night’s debut of Salado with Villanueva’s Team Unity in the company of celebrated guard Mark Barroca, they were unceremoniously greeted by the KSB Glass Iligan’s impunity.
Powered by Jojo Tangkay’s 23 and the combined 54 of Landry Sanjo, Minguito and Ferdinand Lusdoc, Iligan pummelled Team Unity, 101-87 in a lopsided match.
In the opener, Manila’s Parekoy Las Piñas relied on a solid fourth quarter effort to overcome the youth-laden Cebu Niños, 87-83.
With the stinging loss, Team Unity may already had PH Gilas power forward Vic Manuel in Wednesday’s duel with Cebu Niños, plus ex-pros Carlos Sayon and Bitoy Omolon.
“Our Mayor (Gomer “Enan” Sabio) doesn’t like one-sided results. So, spectators can expect adjustment every now and then with the coming of reinforcement from the big leagues,” Tagoloan sports-in-charge Van Halen Parmis told SunStar Cagayan de Oro.
But strong-starting Iligan is also expecting the arrival of Jalalon and defensive specialist Mark “The Assassin” Yee to further solidify its frontline.
“And that’s the bad news for rival teams,” warned Tagoloan’s top dribbler Maher Eduave.
Over P400,000 in total cash prizes are at stake in the five-day hoopfest with the lion’s share of P150,000 going to the team champion.
The scores:
Parekoy Las Piñas (Manila) 87 — Estella 21, Caparid 16, Reyes 14, Tajonera 14, Villones 10, Posada 6, Alpha 4.
Cebu Niños 83 — Rosete 25, Yero 12, Elombi 12, Peromingan 10, Jelanggao 6, Sabandal 4, Del Puerto 4, Gesalem 3, Maata 2.
Second Game
KSB Glass (Iligan) 101 - Tangkay 23, Sanjo 19, Minguito 19, Lusdok 16, Tamparong 7, Muños 4,
Team Unity 87 — Barroca 25, Actub 16, Salado 14, Clayter 9, Cabrera 6, Kwong 2, Rodriguez 2.
Games today (December 19):
10 a.m. - Cebu’s Southwestern vs Team Unity
4 p.m. — Exhibition Game
7 p.m. — Cebu Niños vs KSB Iligan
8:30 p.m. — Team Unity vs Parekoy Las Piñas