New lease on life for Salado
It hadn’t been smooth sailing for 5-9 guard Kent Salado in his PBA career. The rocky road has led Salado to Barangay Ginebra, NorthPort, NLEX and now, Phoenix since he was picked 27th overall on the second round in the 2019 draft.
At Arellano, Salado enjoyed his best NCAA season playing alongside Jio Jalalon during the 2016 Finals. Then, he suffered MCL and ACL injuries in the right knee, sat out a year and came back to anchor the Chiefs’ 4-14 season as a graduating senior. Salado never savored an NCAA title but with Ginebra, was a reserve on two PBA championship teams.
In his first two years with Ginebra, Salado played a total of nine games and averaged less than a point. He moved to NorthPort in a multiplayer trade that involved Jamie Malonzo and Arvin Tolentino then shifted to NLEX as part of the Robert Bolick deal. Salado suited up once for the Road Warriors in the last Commissioner’s Cup, was relegated to the free agents list and was tapped by Phoenix after the Fuel Masters’ Tyler Tio went down with a serious ankle injury in the ongoing Philippine Cup.
In seven games so far with Phoenix, Salado averaged 8.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 24.6 minutes – all career-highs. He shot .357 from three and .750 from the line. Coach Jamike Jarin got Salado to start in Phoenix’ last three outings and he has responded by hitting at an 11-point clip.
Jarin said Salado’s like a young RR Garcia. “I’ve always been a Salado fan ever since we were playing against Arellano in the NCAA,” noted Jarin who led San Beda to the NCAA title in 2016. “I love the way he attacks the basket and creates for his teammates. I was surprised when NLEX dropped him and he was in Cagayan de Oro when I contacted him. We just continued his contract which expires in May and as far as I know, we’ll extend him. He can be in the mold of a Mark Barroca and Jalalon.”
Jarin said he expects Tio, who saw action in only one game this conference, to play all out next season. “I’m looking forward to playing Tyler and Kent together,” he noted. “It was a disappointing conference for us. We were hit badly by injuries. Tyler, Raul (Soyud), Perk (Jason Perkins), RR and Sean (Manganti). We never had a full lineup. Our rookies – Ricci Rivero, Raffy Verano, Matthew Daves, Ken Tuffin – played really well and they will just get better as the years go on. In the coming draft, we’re just looking at the best available talent.”
Phoenix winds up its conference and season against Blackwater at the Ynares Arena, Pasig, on Saturday. Jarin hopes to finish with a flourish and build renewed confidence for the next campaign. Surely, Salado will be on Jarin’s mind as he gathers the troops for a rebound.