THOUGHTS | THAT JEROM LASTIMOSA PLAY

I just realized that the Magnolia Hotshots’ uniforms kind of resemble one of the alternate jerseys of the Golden State Warriors. And with Jerom Lastimosa wearing jersey number 30, he’s basically the team’s version of Stephen Curry.

Hmmm.

And if you factor in that he’s practically a second-generation baller — even if not officially — then saying he’s under a lot of pressure might actually be an understatement.

Anyway...

It was the final seconds of overtime. The Meralco Bolts and the Magnolia Hotshots were locked in a dogfight, 104-101. Clint Chapman had already fouled out, and Magnolia found itself in a difficult spot, rescued only by the heroics of Jerom Lastimosa. The former Adamson Soaring Falcon went into full beast mode in the latter half of the fourth quarter and nearly carried the Hotshots to the next round single-handedly, if not for the efforts of Chris Newsome.

In overtime, the Bolts regained control behind Bong Quinto, but Lastimosa kept answering back. Then, with 21.1 seconds left, Mark Barroca inbounded the ball to Lastimosa for a possible game-tying possession. Lastimosa briefly shook free from Javee Mocon and could have attempted the three, but hesitated. He then crossed over Mocon for what looked like a clear lane to the basket, yet instead of taking the shot, he tried to dish the ball to Zavier Lucero. Marvin Jones intercepted the pass.

With 5.4 seconds remaining, Quinto split his free throws to give Meralco a 105-101 lead. Newsome then fouled Lastimosa to prevent a possible four-point play. Lastimosa made the first free throw and intentionally missed the second, but the rebound landed in the hands of Cliff Hodge, who immediately gave it to Jones as time expired. The Bolts escaped with a 105-102 victory.

On the Magnolia bench, coach LA Tenorio, as well as teammates Javi Gomez de Liaño and Ian Sangalang, could only react in disbelief, even facepalming at one point. There was also a shot of Peter Alfaro looking toward a visibly distraught Clint Chapman, who had essentially played his final game in the PBA this season since the next conference carries a 6-foot-6 height limit for imports.

It was a painful loss that may have been unavoidable, but it could have ended better.

Keeping it real, if Converge has Alec Stockton and Titan Ultra has Joshua Munzon, then Magnolia has Lastimosa when it comes to “hero ball going wrong.” This is not meant as a shot against him, especially since other PBA players carry the same reputation. The difference is that players like Robert Bolick, CJ Perez, Chris Newsome, and even RJ Abarrientos either strike a better balance with hero ball or have teammates capable of bailing them out of difficult situations.

And this was not the first time it happened for Lastimosa, now in the middle of his sophomore season. There was even a previous instance when Tenorio drew up a play, only for Lastimosa to ignore it and launch a questionable three. Tenorio’s frustration afterward was obvious.

Personally, it feels more like a player who fully trusts his game. But in this do-or-die situation, Lastimosa made the wrong decisions at the worst possible time. Instead of trusting his instincts, it looked like Lastimosa was more focused on avoiding a mistake. Maybe he felt it was too early to force a three. Maybe he thought Jones might foul Lucero.

Whatever the reason, his decision-making still needs work.

Lastimosa has already earned most of Magnolia’s backcourt minutes, but moments like this also show why Mark Barroca remains the team’s best playmaker. Unlike Stockton and Munzon, Lastimosa did not go full hero ball on this sequence. Still, his hesitation to make the right read turned him from hero to goat in an instant.

Meanwhile, Quinto, who had been scoreless through the first 46 minutes of the game, delivered when it mattered most.

Unless Magnolia finds another point guard capable of taking his spot, there is every reason to believe he can still improve. The scoring ability is already there. But at a shade under six feet tall, he has to become a better decision-maker and playmaker, especially for a big-budget franchise whose last championship came 17 conferences ago — nearly a decade now.

Mistakes happen to every player, rookie or veteran alike. Yes, Lastimosa played a huge role in Magnolia’s elimination, but with him turning 28 this July, there is still time for growth.

Lastimosa is already trusted as Magnolia’s point guard of the future, but he’s also slowly emerging as one of the players expected to shape the league’s future.

More than anything, he needs to flush this play from his system and focus on a redemption arc.