Adamson University’s worst fears came true on Saturday evening.
An MRI concluded that its senior guard Jerom Lastimosa has suffered a full ACL tear in his left knee that will rule him out not just for this season but for a full calendar year.
“The medical record came out last night, just to make a statement, I received the medical record last night confirming Jerom ay may full tear ng ACL,” said Adamson athletic director Fr. Aldrin Suan, CM.
“Nag MRI siya October 27 9 p.m. I just want to correct yung marites ng isang nagreport na there was a full tear noon pero wala pa kaming confirmation noon. We had a confirmation kagabi lang with the medical report ng MRI.”
Lastimosa, 25, had already been nursing a partial ACL tear that he sustained last June during a preseason tournament in Bayugan, Agusan del Sur.
The heady 5-foot-10 guard missed the rest of the Soaring Falcons’ build-up to UAAP Season 86 as he was in a mad rush to play out his final season.
“When we put Jerom to play after so much intensive rehab, it has a clearance ng isang well-known doctor,” said Suan to which Lastimosa agreed.
“Nagkaroon kami ng intensive rehab talaga, in fact naging very positive yung development before the game sa UP as we targeted yung kanyang rehab yun naman talaga yun.”
Angelo Kouame also played with a partial ACL tear last season.
However, disaster struck during the contest held last Wednesday against the Fighting Maroons.
Still, Lastimosa is not blaming anyone for what happened to him.
After all, he decided to return to Adamson after the interests given to him by Korean and Japanese clubs did not end up being full offers.
“Hindi naman napi-pressure kasi I think normal naman sa lahat ng athletes na nagkakaroon ng injury. Yun nga, sad to say ACL siya so move on, focus na lang muna sa next step kung paano ako makakabalik sa laro,” said Lastimosa.
