By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Redemption season is on track.
First mission passed, and another bullet on the checklist was marked green.
For the second straight season, the Jaro Titans became the first team in the JB Amateur Basketball League (JB ABL) Battle of the 7 District to clinch a direct seat to the championship round after sweeping all of their elimination games on November 12, 2024, held in Iloilo City.
Entering their final elimination game with an untainted 5-0 win-loss record, Jaro only needed one more victory to return to the grand finals and rewrite the fate of their past season.
Oh boy, they delivered.
Jaro really embodied their moniker and is the hottest team in the JB ABL after taking down the Molo Immortals, 104-94, to cap off their Season II campaign with an unblemished 6-0 record.
The Titans averted an early hole after Molo got to a hot start, racing to a 6-0 advantage with three quick buckets in the shaded lane.
However, Jaro only needed a short period of stretch to retake the lead as Kevin Barranco made it rain from downtown, torching Molo in the first half that steered the Titans to an early double-digit lead.
The Titans continued to sink much-needed baskets to protect their double-digit cushion but the Immortals provided a slight scare as their full-court pressure defense did wonders, helping them reduce their deficit to just eight points in the third quarter.
Just when Molo thought they could ride the wave and continue their waxing hot outing, the return of Barranco inside the court backstopped by the trio of JN Gula, Clint Mesias, and Mark Suarez sparked another Jaro run that ballooned their lead back to double digits.
Molo gave their all and made one last push after trimming the lead to just four points, but a late dagger three-pointer from Mesias sealed the deal for Jaro.
Barranco was named the Best Player of the Game as the Central Philippine University (CPU) Golden Lions floor general scored a game-high 32 points.
It was his offensive showcase that spearheaded Jaro’s mid-quarter run in the first, kicking things off with a pair of treys and pull-up perimeter jumpers that quickly evaporated Molo’s early lead.
When Barranco took a rest, Mesias, Suarez, and Gula took over the offensive department, supported by the paint presence of their uprising center David Leones.
As of now, the Titans are still waiting for their opponent in the grand finals as City Proper, Molo, Mandurriao, La Paz, and Lapuz will seek to grind their spots for the tournament semifinals.
