ANTIPOLO - Jerom Lastimosa scored a career-high 28 points on Saturday, but the achievement turned out to be bittersweet as Magnolia was ousted by Meralco in the PBA 50th Season Commissioner's Cup.
Lastimosa eclipsed his previous career-best by one point that he made against NorthPort during last season's Commissioner's Cup.
But a solitary point that he failed to score proved to be the game-changer on Saturday when he misfired on his first of two free throws with the score tied at 100 with 23.5 seconds left in overtime.
READ: Meralco survives Magnolia in OT classic to book semifinals spot
Lastimosa made the second free throw, but that was the opening that Meralco needed to escape with a 105-102 win in overtime to advance to the semifinals.
“Doon sa na-mintis ko na free throw, siguro learnings yun sa akin,” said Lastimosa. “Hindi naman mawawala yung learnings especially sa player. Kahit bata o matanda, yung learnings darating talaga.”
The former Adamson guard's effort proved to be futile after taking over the game when Magnolia import Clint Chapman fouled out with still four minutes left in the fourth. He had 11 and 10 points in the fourth and overtime period respectively.
Magnolia turned to Lastimosa late in the fourth where he scored a lay-up with 9.6 seconds left to even the count at 92. He then scored all of the Hotshots' points in overtime. However, Meralco turned out to become the better team, but barely.
Even with the loss, Lastimosa is thankful to Magnolia coach LA Tenorio for the enormous trust that he can deliver during the final stretch where the Hotshots were already playing without an import.
“Sobrang blessed kasi siyempre si coach LA, nag-tatrust talaga siya sa akin. Yun nga yung nangyari na nakukuha ko na yung trust ni coach LA. Masaya lang at sobrang blessed na ganun si coach LA sa akin. Binibigyan niya ako ng green light to make the plays,” said Lastimosa.
“Credit doon sa Meralco players. Talagang nalamangan nila yung energy namin. Nawalan din kami ng import sa dulo. But we fought hard na hindi kami sumuko sa dulo. Yun lang yung maganda doon."
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