Blackwater’s Lastimosa chalks game-winner up to luck

MANILA, Philippines – Carlo Lastimosa saved Blackwater from the sting of a tough loss – and the regret that was sure to come with it – with a beautiful game-winner against the gritty Meralco on Wednesday, November 4. 

But the third-year guard refused to take any legitimate credit for it. 

“I was just one of the options,” he explained in Filipino following the Elite’s 92-90 escape from the Bolts. “I saw we had 6 seconds left and it would take more time if I passed the ball. Luckily enough, I saw an opening to drive so I took the shot. Good thing it went in.” 

“Wala, tsamba lang (I just got lucky),” he stressed.

Lastimosa, 25, took over in the final 6-second possession and drove down the gut of the defense, letting fly high-looping floater that went in off the glass to break the 90-all deadlock with one second remaining. 

“Structured sideline out-of-bounds [play], that has so many options and it was Carlo Lastimosa who really took charge,” Blackwater coach Leo Isaac explained in a mix of Filipino and English the final play he drew up.

“Carlo could have swung the ball to Mike (Cortez) and waited for the inbounder to make his cut but instead, when Carlo got hold of the basketball, he went ahead. It’s also an option. 

“Knowing Carlo, he’s been doing that since his college days in the NCAA and when he took that shot, I could see it would go in. From the release point from his hand to the glass.” 

“Good thing Carlo had that presence of mind to take charge in the final seconds of the game,” Isaac added.

The Bolts had no answer in the closing second as the Elite came away with the victory – their first in the all-Filipino conference after going winless last year. 

“Sobrang saya (I’m very happy),” Lastimosa, a former College of St Benilde star, said of being responsible for the second year PBA team’s historic win. 

“I see that my team supports me and we help each other. That’s what’s good about our team because we don’t care who gets the credit, the important thing is we win.”

The 6-foot Lastimosa, who was traded to Blackwater from Barako Bull last July in exchange for Brian Heruela, finished with 11 points, 3 rebounds, an assist, and a steal off the bench in over 16 minutes of play. 

The Elite improved to a 1-2 record and will next face defending champions San Miguel Beermen on Wednesday, November 11. Isaac is looking forward to the kind of inspired play his team can muster following Wednesday’s triumph. 

“We badly needed this win,” Isaac said. 

“I can’t say what will happen with our game against San Miguel but definitely our confidence will go up to the next level, the morale of the players will be on the next level, everything will be in our favor considering this is our first win in an all-Filipino conference.” – Rappler.com