Adamson star Jerom Lastimosa. –UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Adamson has immortalized Jerom Lastimosa’s jersey No.7 ahead of his final playing year in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament starting on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.
The school on Friday held a jersey retirement for the graduating guard during its Pep Rally.
“No other member of the Soaring Falcons Basketball Men’s Team may wear this number again, in recognition of Jerom Lastimosa’s remarkable journey as an athlete,” Adamson posted. “We look forward to seeing you back in the UAAP court this season, Jerom!”
The Falcons produced several notable basketball stalwarts like Hector Calma, Kenneth Duremdes, Marlou Aquino, former UAAP MVP Ken Bono, and Jericho Cruz. But Lastimosa became the first Adamson athlete to have his jersey retired.
It was an unprecedented event in UAAP basketball that a player’s jersey number got retired before playing his final season.
The 5-foot-10 guard, who started playing from Adamson in 2018, admitted that he suffered a knee injury that needs surgery during practice, but he vows to play his final season for the Falcons.
Lastimosa was part of the Gilas Pilipinas redeem team’s gold medal run in this year’s 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.
Lastimosa emerged as one of the top point guards in the league last year, leading Adamson to the Final Four after averaging 14.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in Season 85.
Adamson opens its Season 86 campaign against runner-up University of the Philippines on Sunday at MOA Arena.