The Last Chieftain
by rick olivares
There were moments when it was circa 2014 and 2016. Arellano University Chief Kent Michael Salado put on the moves against De La Salle’s Encho Serrano then pulled up and stuck in a long jumper, 40-39, for the former’s squad.
Earlier, he drove right through the heart of La Salle’s defense and lofted a reverse lay-up where the ball kissed the glass before finding the bottom of the net.
But that jumper, would be the last gasp for the Chiefs against the Green Archers in that match as they dropped a huge run that gave them control of the game. It ended in an ugly 95-62 blowout loss for the Chiefs.
Inside the Arellano locker room, Salado iced his knees.
It wasn’t too long ago where he suffered a knee injury while playing for Go for Gold in the D-League that also ended his 2018-19 campaign also with Arellano that was supposed to be his swan song with the team.
Salado, who hails from Cagayan De Oro, leaned back and took in the atmosphere in the dugout. Gone ae his running mates Jio Jalalon and Donald Gumaru. Together the three of them pressed foes into oblivion. Their understanding of each other and the game was telepathic. They made the game fun to watch with their free-wheeling ways.
Gone too are sniper Zach Nichols, athletic forward Michael Cañete, sleek Dioncee Holts who was actually a forward playing center, tough swingman Brylle Meca, and strong man Lervin Flores.
Archie Concepcion is still around as is Rence Alcoriza and Ellie Ongolo Ongolo. Salado went to war with those three.
However, the days when the Arellano Chiefs were NCAA title contenders are over; at least for now. They still had the makings of a Final Four squad last season when they still had Levi De la Cruz, Richard Abanes, Allen Enriquez, Kraniel Villoria, and Marwin Taywan. And of course, head coach Jerry Codinera who picked up the squad and turned them into NCAA finalists.
Some have graduated, most have left after the season for various reasons (and depending on who you ask). Taywan is now with the Emilio Aguinaldo Generals where he is perhaps that team’s version of Salado.
Salado now wears his hair long with some facial hair; like a younger Terrence Romeo.
The Chiefs are 0-4 in the ongoing Filoil tourney. There isn’t much help save for power forward transferee Justin Araña. Alcoriza still has his moments. But the Chiefs cannot replicate their troika of Jalalon-Salado-Gumaru.
“When I returned, I had to adjust to this new team,” said Salado in the vernacular. “Before, we all knew what each one was going to do so we passed the ball where someone should be, we gambled on defense knowing someone was going to cover for me if my man got past me. Now, I don’t know. We’re learning to play with each other which is what the pre-season is all about.”
Right now, opposing teams are gearing their defense towards stopping Salado. La Salle threw a tough defending Serrano against him and when Salado was able to blow by him, there was a taller player to challenge the jump shot. With no Gumaru to spot up from the outside, no Nichols, in one particular play, Salado drove and tried another of those zany twisting reverse lay-ups of his. This time, La Salle was ready for him and center Justine Baltazar rejected the shot, grabbed the loose ball, and pitched it out igniting a fastbreak.
When Salado returned to the game, it was trying to stop a water leak with one’s hand. By the final frame, Cholo Martin, who replaced Codinera, went to his third unit (and the massacre continued).
After the game, Salado remained upbeat. “I have to,” he said “This is a young team and my role has changed. It’s to help them along and provide leadership. I cannot score 20-points per game. What is the use if we lose? I do what I have to but also to help the others get their shots. This is why we play the preseason more so since we (Arellano University) are NCAA season hosts.”
Does he think the Chiefs have what it takes to return to the Final Four let alone win it all?
He paused for what seemed like close to a minute. He smiled rather wryly. Kent Michael Salado knows it is tough. Very tough. San Beda is still the prohibitive favorite. Lyceum remains tough. San Sebastian and College of St. Benilde look mighty good. Mapua is up and coming as is Emilio Aguinaldo College. Jose Rizal University has the makings of a good team but still needs some pieces for them to make a Final Four push.
Salado smiled and measured his words, “We will try,” he once more said in the vernacular. “The ball is round.”
And the last of the great Chieftains who led Arellano to its best years in the NCAA got up and went out of the arena (the team bus more than 40 minutes late in picking them up). Salado sat down by the players’ entrance and joked about the bus being late.
The bus driver has moved on. Salado’s hoping now, that this Chiefs team hasn’t missed the bus to basketball’s Promised Land.
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