For Magnolia Hotshots, Saturday night ended in heartbreak. For Jerom Lastimosa, it may have marked the arrival of a future franchise leader.
Magnolia bowed out of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals after a painful 105-102 overtime defeat to the Meralco Bolts, but even in defeat, Lastimosa walked away with something just as valuable, the respect of veterans who know what it takes to survive in the league’s biggest moments.
The young guard carried the Hotshots for most of the night, pouring in 28 points alongside four rebounds and two assists while fearlessly attacking a Meralco squad loaded with playoff experience. Every time Magnolia needed a basket, Lastimosa seemed ready to answer, refusing to let the game slip away quietly.
What stood out wasn’t just the scoring, but the responsibility he willingly embraced. In a tense playoff atmosphere, the ball repeatedly found its way to his hands, and he welcomed the pressure instead of shying away from it.
Even opposing star Chris Newsome couldn’t help but admire the performance unfolding in front of him.
“The sky’s the limit for him. He shows that he’s capable of doing things in crunch time, which is commendable to him, because he’s willing to put that on his shoulders at such a young age,” Newsome said.
Newsome finished with 18 points and five assists of his own to help send Meralco into the semifinals, but his appreciation for Lastimosa’s growth runs deeper than one playoff duel.
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Meralco’s Chris Newsome speaks highly of former SEAG teammate Jerom Lastimosa after their crucial matchup, praising his growth, potential, and work ethic, while saying the young guard is capable of achieving even bigger things moving forward.| via Czarina Agaton/One Sports pic.twitter.com/2lKFYbnMVB
— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) May 16, 2026
The two were teammates during the 32nd Cambodia SEA Games in 2023 under Gilas Pilipinas, where Newsome first saw signs that the former Adamson standout could thrive at the professional level.
“He was part of the SEA games team before and we were teammates. I knew from that moment and when he was in Adamson that he was going to be a tough kid in the league and he’s proving that every night out,” the 35-year-old guard said.
That toughness showed late in regulation and overtime as Lastimosa traded big plays with veteran forward Bong Quinto. But as the minutes piled up, fatigue slowly crept in.
With 23.5 seconds left, he split a pair of free throws that could have tied the contest, opening the door for Meralco to finally escape. The missed opportunity will likely linger, but so will the lesson. For players expected to become stars, playoff scars are often part of the process.
Under coach LA Tenorio, Lastimosa has steadily earned trust in crucial situations, and against Meralco, he showed he can handle both the spotlight and the burden that comes with it.
Newsome believes this performance will eventually fuel Lastimosa’s rise even more.
“For now, I’m glad that we got the one-up on him on this one, but I know he’s gonna be hungry whenever we do get that matchup again, and it’s only gonna make him a better competitor down the road,” the Ateneo de Manila product said.
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