Lastimosa, Gilas Pilipinas recapture SEA Games gold in 5x5 basketball
Date Posted: May 22, 2023 at 01:24 PM
The King Falcons is now golden.
Gilas Pilipinas, backstopped by Adamson Soaring Falcons star pointguard Jerom Lastimosa, reclaimed the Southeast Asian Games gold medal for 5x5 men’s basketball after holding off an import-laden home team of Cambodia, 80-69, at the Morodok Techo Sports Complex last May 16.
Naturalized Filipino Justin Brownlee dropped 23 points on a Cambodian side that swept its first four games by double digits, including a 79-68 upset over Gilas in the group stage.
Lastimosa, meanwhile, served as backup to PBA starters Chris Ross and Chris Newsome as floor general but proved himself as a vital part of the team’s plays.
Despite taking a back seat in scoring, the Dumaguete-native made up for it in defense and playmaking as he locked down one of Cambodia’s American reinforcements Darrin Dorsey, punctuated by a crucial block on the 6’2 guard.
He tallied his best scoring game in Gilas’ 105-45 blowout win over Singapore where he scored 12 points.
Lastimosa is already in the country as of this writing and is expected to make a courtesy call with University President Fr. Marcelo V. Manimtim and appear in a marketing event of the UStore.