Jio Jalalon’s Missed Free Throws Spark Painful Loss—and Fan Frustration
Jio Jalalon had the ball in his hands and the game at his fingertips—but in a matter of seconds, everything slipped away.
The 32-year-old NorthPort guard found himself at the center of heartbreak on Friday night as the Batang Pier fell to Meralco, 105-104, in a Philippine Cup thriller at Philsports Arena. With just eight seconds left on the clock and his team ahead, Jalalon missed two critical free throws that could have iced the game.
Instead, the misses became a door left wide open.
Meralco’s Bong Quinto charged through that door, nailing a tough undergoal stab over two defenders to snatch the win. William Navarro had a last-second chance to steal it back for NorthPort, but his fadeaway jumper missed its mark.
Jalalon, devastated and near tears after the game, took full accountability.
“Sanay na ako sa ganung game, tapos ako pa ‘yung nagmintis ng dalawa,” he said.
“Sabi ko nga sa mga teammates ko, kasalanan ko. Kinuha ko ‘yung bola kasi gusto kong ipanalo ‘yung team, tapos ako pa ang nagkulang.”
The pain isn’t just Jalalon’s to bear—it’s the kind fans never forget. Missed free throws, especially in clutch situations, are one of the most painful ways to lose in basketball. They linger. For the player, they haunt. For fans, they symbolize what could have been.
And it stings more because Jalalon had actually hit two earlier foul shots to give NorthPort a 104-99 lead with just 23 seconds remaining. From there, however, the team went 0-for-4 at the line while Meralco unleashed a 6-0 closing run.
The collapse pushed NorthPort to a 1-4 record and extended their losing streak to four games.
“Breaks of the game,” Jalalon said quietly. “Darating talaga ‘yan as a player. Move forward na lang. Sana ganun ulit ‘yung game namin next time—pero panalo na.”
In the eyes of fans, missed free throws are never just missed shots. They're a test of nerves, a measure of poise, and in moments like these—where one point makes the difference—they become turning points. For Jalalon, the next game is a chance to redeem himself. But for the NorthPort faithful, this one might take a while to forget.
NorthPort faces Converge next on May 16.
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