After a breakout performance in a heartbreaking do-or-die match against the UP Fighting Maroons, transferee Jerom Lastimosa of Adamson hopes to fill the top playmaker position on his team in succeeding UAAP seasons.

According to Lastimosa, Jerie Pinggoy has expressed his intention not to return next season, giving the Dumaguete native a chance to get the starting position.

"Si Pinggoy kasi parang ayaw na maglaro next year. So, ine-expect ko na ako na ang point guard next season," Lastimosa said.

Lastimosa was solid for Adamson in Wednesday's game as he finished with 17 points, including the game-tying triple in the last 2.6 seconds of regulation to force an extra 5 minutes

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WATCH: Lastimosa’s game-equalizing three! #UAAPSeason81 pic.twitter.com/yxfP6GSdDd

— Karl Cedrick Basco (@cedrickkbasco) November 28, 2018

"Pagka-shoot ko nu'ng three points sa gilid [in the fourth quarter], ang mindset ko sa amin talaga ibibigay ni Lord 'yun. Pero 'di pala sa amin," he lamented.

Down by two in the dying seconds of the overtime, he attempted to knock down a possible game-winner three but missed the mark.

Despite the letdown, the 5-foot-10 Falcons guard revealed he did not expect to play solidly in his first UAAP season, citing inexperience in that type of atmosphere and level of competition in the premiere collegiate league.

"Nu'ng paglipat ko rito [Adamson], di ko in-expect na mako-contain ko 'yung laro ko mula sa Dumaguete papunta rito kasi siyempre di pa ko naka-realize sa UAAP," the Adamson cager said. "Pero sinubukan ko 'yung laro ko sa Dumaguete, inilaro ko rito."

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While it was a defeat for the San Marcelino-based squad, Lastimosa remained grateful.

" 'Yung pinakita lang namin ay magandang laban. Pero ganoon talaga, talo pa rin. Nagkulang kami sa last 5 minutes," Lastimosa added.

He was also overwhelmed with the mammoth crowd present at the Araneta Coliseum, thanking the Adamson community for its support. Nearly 21,000 fans trooped to the coliseum to watch how the history unfolded.

Lastimosa, who still has four more playing years, has assured that he will help the team mature in the next seasons.

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