Just when Jerom Lastimosa was widely reported to have played his last game for Adamson University in the UAAP Season 85 Men’s Basketball Tournament, the 5-foot-10 court general made his surprising return against University of the East.
The Dumaguete native first entered the action with 30.4 seconds remaining in the second quarter. He then returned with 19.6 seconds left to play in the game, when he scored two free throws.
The Soaring Falcons emerged victorious, 74-64, against the Red Warriors.
“Si Jerom Lastimosa is not out for the season,” said Adamson coach Nash Racela.
“Yun lang masasabi ko.”
Tiebreaker Times reported on Saturday that Lastimosa looks to make a full return either against National University on the 27th or against Ateneo de Manila University on the 30th.
All in all, Lastimosa played 32 seconds. It was his first time back ever since he suffered a foot injury against University of the Philippines in the second round.
Lastimosa’s insertion in the game was greeted by a celebratory reaction from those in the venue, as well as people watching at home or keeping track of the game through social media.
It was a move, too, by Racela to demonstrate that his star guard has a lot of gas left in the tank for the Soaring Falcons’ remaining matches.
“Regardless of the time he was in, I think it’s a statement that he is available for this season. I read somewhere na he won’t be available daw,” said Racela. “Nagulat ako. Sabi ko – buti pa kayo, alam niyo. Hindi ko alam. I think that’s the message regardless if it’s 30 or 10 seconds. We all look forward to him playing longer.
“He’s getting better. I think that if there’s something that you should write or you will have to write, then it’s that Jerom is getting better.”
For his part, Lastimosa was simply happy to be back on the court. With a 5-6 record, the Soaring Falcons still have a chance to enter the Final Four for the first time since Season 81.
He may not be 100-percent fit, but he is gonna do everything he can to bring his team to the promised land.
“I’m fully blessed kasi ginamit pa rin ako ni coach kahit hindi ako 100 percent recovered. Masaya ako kasi may tiwala pa rin si coach na ipasok like 30 seconds. So blessed lang,” said Lastimosa.
“Pakiramdam ko palagi, lalong-lalo na ngayon, is getting better. Makakatulong pa rin ako sa team and yun yung palagi kong ine-expect. Gusto ko talagang makatulong sa team and gusto namin to make it to the Final Four (and) to make it to the Finals.”
Adamson has three games left in the elimination round before they can dream of a Final Four ticket.
There is still a long way to go, but so many things can happen. The good thing is that the Soaring Falcons are getting healthier by the day.
“Well it’s the Jerom effect. Just seeing him suit up, seeing him shoot around (and) even stretch and warm up with the team, that really helps us,” said Racela. “We look forward to the next game na si Vince Magbuhos will do the same thing. It’s nice that Jerom is available today, si AP Manlapaz is available today.
“Yung ganitong sitwasyon and ganitong time, you would really need all the help that you could get.”
