Back in UAAP Season 81, just like its theme “It All Begins Here,” the collegiate careers of two rookies started — they turned out to be special players and individuals.
One was L-Jay Gonzales, a homegrown talent of Far Eastern University who made the leap from being a Baby Tamaraw to a Tamaraw at the senior level.
The other was Adamson Falcon Jerom Lastimosa, who had a very familiar surname, but his relation to hoops legend Jojo Lastimosa ended there; they are not related.
Although Gonzales was highly anticipated, while Lastimosa went under the radar, their careers would take the same path — a road that led to being unforgettable players for their respective teams.
In Season 86, the two probinsyanos — arguably two of the best point guards during their time — will see their college-level careers come to an end.
Despite being on opposite ends throughout the five seasons they played against each other, the two most adorable figures in UAAP basketball developed a strong bond outside the court.
“Since Day 1 na nandito kami sa UAAP, yung closeness namin ni L-Jay parang magkakapatid na kami. Every time na magkita kami, nagyayakapan talaga kami,” shared Lastimosa, the 25-year-old pride of Dumaguete. “Talagang sobrang close na namin, tapos every time na nagkikita kami nagyayakapan kami, kasi nga miss na miss na namin yung isa’t isa.”
“Sobrang happy ako na nakalaban ko siya at nakakasama ko siya. Happy din ako nakikita ko siyang nakakapanood kahit hindi siya naglalaro. Kasi nag-uusap naman kami through Messenger at Instagram,” said Gonzales, the 25-year-old pride of San Mateo, Isabela.
FEU fell out of Final Four contention last Saturday after their loss to the University of the Philippines, marking next Saturday’s game against the University of Santo Tomas as the last time Gonzales will sing his alma mater hymn on the basketball court as a student-athlete.
On the other hand, Adamson remains alive in the post-season race at 5-7, just a game behind fourth-running Ateneo de Manila University at 6-6, with all teams still having two games each in their schedules.
However, Lastimosa’s season ended the day he debuted last October 25 against UP. After recovering from a knee injury, the Soaring Falcon returned but suffered a torn ACL on the same knee against the Fighting Maroons that ended his UAAP career abruptly.
With no more face-offs left for the two of them in the country’s premier collegiate league, they look to the next stage together.
“Lagi ko naman dinadasal na sana, soon, magkasama pa kami. Makapaglaro din kami sa isa’t isa. Hopefully, sana talaga, ang prayer ko, sana gumaling muna siya and makabalik siya sa pro league and makapag-laro siya nang maayos. Yun lang yung prayers ko talaga sa kanya. Sana maging maayos siya and healthy,” said Gonzales of his good pal in San Marcelino, Manila.
“Ako, I’m so happy for him. Last year niya, nakakalaro siya ako hindi. So, looking forward to the next journey sa aming dalawa, which is the pros,” said Lastimosa, expecting a reunion of sorts once they make the next jump.
The final buzzer is soon to sound for Gonzales and Lastimosa, but everyone knows that this is just the beginning of a long career for two of the brightest guards the UAAP has seen in recent memory.
More importantly, the league succeeded in its quest to promote sportsmanship with the friendship of the two floor generals who have made it in the country’s capital.
“Sobrang saya lang namin na sabay kami na naglaro sa UAAP and sabay kami mawawala dito sa UAAP,” expressed Lastimosa.
