Aljon Mariano facts for kids
Mariano in 2020
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| No. 31 – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel | |
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| Small forward / power forward | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | August 3, 1992 Mandaluyong, Philippines |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 175 lb (79 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | UST (2009–2014) |
| PBA Draft | 2015 Round: 2 / Pick: 16th overall |
| Selected by the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel | |
| Pro career | 2015–present |
| League | PBA |
| Career history | |
| 2015–present | Barangay Ginebra San Miguel |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Aljon Escalona Mariano (born August 3, 1992) is a professional basketball player from the Philippines. He plays for the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel team in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He was chosen by Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the 2015 PBA draft.
Contents
College Basketball Journey
Starting His College Journey
Aljon joined the UST Growling Tigers basketball team in 2009. This was for the UAAP Season 72. In his first year, he played a little bit for the team.
Becoming a Starter
In his second season, Aljon became a regular starter for the Tigers. He scored about 7 points and grabbed 3 rebounds per game. Sadly, the team was still quite new. They did not make it to the "Final Four" playoffs. They finished 7th out of 8 teams.
Bouncing Back from Injury
Aljon could not play in UAAP Season 74 because he broke his ankle. This injury kept him off the court for six months.
He returned to play for the Tigers the next season. In one game against the Ateneo Blue Eagles, Aljon scored a lot of points. He had 21 points and 13 rebounds. He helped the Tigers win 71–70. This win ended a long losing streak against the Blue Eagles.
Later, against the De La Salle Green Archers, Aljon scored all of his 15 points in the last part of the game. He even made the winning shot with only 7 seconds left. The Tigers won in double overtime, 84–82.
He set a new personal best of 22 points against the NU Bulldogs. He made another game-winning shot in overtime. The Tigers won 58–57. The Tigers made it to the UAAP Final Four as the second-best team. They beat the NU Bulldogs to reach the UAAP Finals. However, they lost to the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the Finals. The Blue Eagles won their fifth championship in a row. Aljon finished the season playing very well.
Winning a National Title
Later that year, Aljon played a big part in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL). The Tigers won the Metro Manila-Luzon part of the tournament. They beat the Letran Knights and the Adamson Soaring Falcons. This helped them get into the PCCL Final Four.
In the Final Four, they played against the Ateneo Blue Eagles, San Beda Red Lions, and Southwestern U Cobras. The Tigers ended with a 2–1 record. This set up a rematch with the Blue Eagles in the Finals. The Tigers got their revenge and won the national championship. It was a very close three-game series.
Tough Final Seasons
In his fourth season, Aljon played with an ankle injury. The Tigers had a tough season. Despite his injury, Aljon helped the team make a surprising run to the UAAP Finals again. They played against the De La Salle Green Archers.
Aljon struggled in the Finals against the Archers. In the third game, he missed a shot that could have won the championship. This sent the game into overtime. He also turned the ball over in the last moments. The Archers then scored the winning shot. The Archers won the title 71–69.
In his last season with the Tigers, Aljon became the team captain. A new coach, Bong dela Cruz, took over. However, the team faced many injuries late in the season. Aljon's college career ended without making it to the Final Four.
Professional Career
Joining the Pros
On August 23, 2015, Aljon Mariano was chosen in the 2015 PBA draft. He was the sixteenth player picked overall. He was drafted by the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel team. He has been playing for them ever since.
