Evan Nelle and the Green Archers played terrific basketball in the playoff for the last spot in the Final Four–until Jerom Lastimosa took over and saved the day for the Soaring Falcons.
Final Four or bust.
This is where it came to for both the DLSU Green Archers and the Adamson Soaring Falcons as they vied to complete the semis cast of the Men’s Basketball Tournament of UAAP Season 85.
Given what’s at stake, most of us expected to see a down-to-the-wire finish and that’s exactly what we got. However, we were also treated to a battle of elite point guards, which saw Jerom Lastimosa and Evan Nelle put on a show as they tried to lead their respective teams to victory.
Nelle was brilliant in the first half as he scored or assisted on 27 of De La Salle’s 48 points. With that, the Green Archers appeared to be in good shape. Then, Jerom Lastimosa put on his Superman cape and took matters into his own hands midway in the third period.
Lastimosa scored or assisted on 17 of AdU’s 21 third quarter points to counter his rival’s opening assault. And to top it off, he also orchestrated a one-man 11-nothing run to wrestle away DLSU’s control of the game and hand the momentum to Adamson for good.
All of the numbers we just mentioned were impressive but they still belie how spectacular Jerom was. The way he got all of those buckets was ridiculous. Hitting contested step-back threes, driving past Nelle and finishing against multiple shot blockers, Lastimosa was downright amazing.
Former UP guard Diego Dario, who has gone against Lastimosa in the past, could attest to that.
In the payoff period, Jerom also got some help from guys like Joshua Yerro, Joem Sabandal and Lenda Douanga. When the smoke cleared, Adamson’s undisputed leader finished with 22 points, took home the 80-76 W, and arguably, the title “Best Point Guard in the UAAP” all while bringing his squad back to the Final Four for the first time in four years.
As for his rival, Evan Nelle, the Green Archers’ point guard had nothing to be ashamed of despite his team’s exit. After all, he got DLSU to this point despite missing the services of Mike Phillips, Kevin Quiambao and Schonny Winston in the last two games.
And some are now saying he’s right up there with Lastimosa for the crown of best floor general in the league. Maybe that’s not too bad.