MANILA – Jerom Lastimosa shed some light on the final play that resulted in a loss for the Magnolia Hotshots loss against the Barangay Ginebra, 91-89, on Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
READ: Ginebra escapes Magnolia on RJ Abarrientos clutch layup
Only two points down in the dying seconds, Magnolia could either tie the game or take the lead and complete the comeback against Ginebra.
Magnolia veteran Paul Lee sent an inbound pass to Lastimosa, who got tied up by the Ginebra defense as he approached the basket.
With nowhere to go, Lastimosa tried to go for a bail-out pass but ended up sending the ball towards Ginebra big man Norbert Torres, losing the chance to tie the game.
After the game, the Magnolia guard said one of the options was for him to take the shot.
"Siguro ano lang, si Coach LA [Tenorio] lang yung makakasagot nun eh kasi siya yung may desisyon. But yung sa akin lang kung may opportunity, open ako, pwede. Pero the play was ano talaga, doon sa kabilang side. And di na din kasi abot si kuya Paul [Lee] sa ano eh. Yun lang," he told reporters.
Lastimosa believes the Gin Kings were able to anticipate the play, as Nards Pinto and Scottie Thompson ganged up on the young gun.
The nearest Magnolia player to Lastimosa was Zavier Lucero, who had Ginebra import Justin Brownlee nearby.
"Wala yung first option lang nun kung open ako. Kaso hindi ako open eh. Uhm andun kasi si Scottie [Thompson] nag-help sa baseline. So wala din kasi ako ma-bail out pass so yun. Pero ano talaga yun eh, dapat may mag-fflare doon sa corner," he explained.
For Lastimosa and the Hotshots, there's no more time to dwell on the loss with their next assignment on Sunday.
"We'll play against a champion team. Sa ngayon relax muna kami pagka-uwi. Pero bukas ano ulit kami ensayo, paghahandaan namin San Miguel. View some clips nila kung ano yung dapat scheme namin sa San Miguel," he said.
Magnolia will face the San Miguel Beermen, who are also seeking to bounce back, at the Araneta Coliseum.