Basketball coaches are infamous for going ballistic over a turnover, but the recent face-off between the Ateneo BlueEagles and Adamson Falcons flipped the script with an unforgettable moment of sportsmanship.
In a lit moment, the Blue Eagles assisted the Falcons in scoring the final basket. Nope, it wasn’t a case of game-fixing but a show of respect for the injured “King Falcon” Jerom Lastimoasa, who was fielded in the game’s closing moments.
And during the final play of the game, with the Blue Eagles in possession, Ateneo rookie Kyle Gamber passed the ball to Lastimosa on the other side of the court, giving the latter the opportunity to sink a three-pointer. Of course, the crowd went wild.
@hoopjunkieph #UAAP @JL7 🐦 Jerom Lastimosa scored his last points in the UAAP at the buzzer! Ateneo will advance to the Final Four, beating Adamson 70-48 in the knockout game. Nice pass Kyle Gambler 👏 #sportsontiktok #ballforall #adamsonuniversity #ateneoblueeagles ♬ original sound – HOOPJUNKIE
In a post-game interview, Lastimosa expressed that his final shot as a UAAP player is now etched in his memory as one of the most memorable moments.
“‘Yun lang ang pinaka-hindi ko makakalimutang moment kasi ‘yun ‘yung pinaka-last shot ko sa UAAP,” Lastimosa said.
And the best part about it is that even Ateneo Coach Tab Baldwin applauded the extraordinary gesture even if it was for the benefit of the opponent.
“If we can have an opportunity to make such a gesture, it costs us nothing. But it gave Jerom a moment that he might not otherwise have had in front of his fans and a salute as he rides into the sunset,” said Baldwin.
