It took 14 months, but Marcio Lassiter has found redemption
In April of 2016 in the Commissioner’s Cup Semifinals, the San Miguel Beermen — already down by a game to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters — were on the verge of being at 0-2 disadvantage, as Rain or Shine were ahead by a field goal, 98-96, in the closing seconds of Game Two.
But the Beermen had Marcio Lassiter on the floor, and the three-point specialist tried to unleash his Super Marcio mode by hitting a contested game-winning triple from the right wing in the final buzzer.
But unfortunately, after reviews by officials, it turned out that Lassiter had failed to launch the shot before the buzzer, putting his pivotal trey in vain as Rain or Shine walked away with a two-game lead in the series that they eventually won.
“It was just like a split second like a 0.1? I didn’t get it off,” recalled Lassiter.
It was definitely a sour moment for him and the whole Beermen squad. But 14 months later, and in the same conference, the 6-foot-2 guard from California made sure that the ghosts of the past would never haunt him and the team again.
Lassiter hit a contested step-back triple off the glass almost from the same spot as last year’s, with just 1.3 ticks left — but the Beermen were on the winning end this time around, 111-110, to take a 2-1 lead over Star in their semifinal tiff.
“Honestly, it was just a great [shot]. I looked up and I saw we had about six seconds left so I knew I had some time to kind of get up for a shot,” described Lassiter of his game-clincher, moments after Game Two at the Big Dome.
“From there, I just wanna make sure that we can get a good shot off. I was just creating enough separation to get a good shot off.”
And the Gilas Pilipinas pioneer felt relieved as Wednesday night’s shot made last year’s misfire lesser painful.
“You know, it was kinda cool to be in that moment and I don’t know if you guys remember, last year I also had a buzzer-beater so you know, this is not like a fluke shot,” reflected the six-year pro of last year’s misfortune. “I’m just kinda glad that this one went in and it just seems like God blessed me today.
“I called game. Nah.
“Of course everyone heard it, I called bank yeah. I meant to do that,” added Lassiter with a chuckle.
Now that the Beermen can close it out on Friday, June 16, at the Mall of Asia Arena, the 30-year-old still sees a handful of adjustments, particularly in the rebounding side where they were outclassed by the Hotshots, 57-37.
“They’re actually rebounding really well, that’s a big problem for us. That’s one of the keys that we need to kinda get and reinforce and try to find a way to get some more rebounds,” he stressed.
“If we can limit their rebounding that would be a pretty great game for us.”
