Jerom Lastimosa’s farewell season for Adamson University came to an abrupt end after suffering a complete anterior cruciate ligament tear on his left knee.
The Falcons guard sustained the tournament-ending injury in his first and unfortunately final appearance in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 men’s basketball tournament last Wednesday against University of the Philippines.
Adamson athletic director Fr. Aldrin Suan, CM confirmed the development yesterday and clarified that the school only received Lastimosa’s MRI result Saturday evening.
“The medical record came out last night. I received the medical record last night that Jerom suffered a full ACL tear. He underwent an MRI on October 27,” Suan said after the Falcons arrested a three-game skid with a 63-54 victory over Far Eastern University at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“I just want to correct the earlier report that there was a full tear (on Jerom’s knee) because we only received the confirmation Saturday night just to correct.”
Lastimosa was in street clothes on the bench as the Falcons improved to a 4-5 win-loss record.
The 25-year-old guard missed the whole first round after suffering a partial tear on the same knee last May.
But Lastimosa, who opted to return for a last hurrah for Adamson as he declined offers to play in Korea and Japan, suited up at the start of the second round checking in at the 2:10 mark of the first quarter against UP.
He saw action for over eight minutes and scored three points before exiting the game with 5:19 left in the third quarter when his knee collided with Fighting Maroon Gerry Abadiano while driving.
He was carried out of the court limping as the Falcons absorbed a 51-77 loss.
The member of the Gilas Pilipinas squad that won gold in the Phnom Penh Southeast Asian Games last May, kept a positive mindset despite the setback that ended his collegiate career.
“I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself. I think it’s normal for athletes to suffer this kind of injury. But sad to say it’s an ACL (injury). So, I just have to move on and focus on the next step for me to get back to playing basketball,” said the 5-foot-10 ace.
There is no timetable for when Lastimosa will undergo an operation, according to Suan.
“When I offered him (to undergo) surgery, he told me: ‘Father, we’ll have it right after the season, because I want to be on the court to sing the school hymn after Adamson’s last game for this season,’” Suan said.
“He will be singing the Adamson hymn with the community as his last dance for his collegiate career.”
Lastimosa said that he would try to get back in shape as soon as possible after the operation.
“I plan to have an aggressive rehab after the operation,” he said.
