Jerom’s brave new world
THE story of Jerom Lastimosa deciding to play his last year with Adamson University was big news the other day.
In a new collegiate basketball world where reigning stars are lured away from finishing their full stints in their colleges or universities by tempting, lucrative offers to play abroad, The Decision by the Kid from Dumaguete is the other side of the picture.
He had, for sure, several offers to find fame and fortune * in other Asian basketball leagues, and still does. Regarded as game changers and life changers for those who have caught the basketball talent scouts’ attention, it is indeed difficult to say no. Besides the adventure of playing abroad, being regarded as an import or saving angel instead of just a promising rookie in the local pro league, the pay is also Temptation with a capital T.
Salaries range from $36,000 per year to $1 million per year. Do the conversion and do not begrudge those who choose to take the open hand of the Japanese, Korean or Taiwanese recruiters.
For the Japanese league alone, the average yearly salary for imports is from $200,000 to $400,000. The lowest reported yearly salary is $100,000 per year, with max salary pegged at $1,000,000 per year. (Source: Josecolorado.com). To lure good players, we would imagine the other Asian leagues competing with Japan both numerically and perks-wise.
But Jerom Lastimosa seems to be cut from another cloth. “Actually, Jerom was also offered to play abroad (before the beginning of Season 85)” teams, but he decided to stay with Adamson University and give it a last run,” said University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) President Fr. Aldrin Suan, CM while discussing the many UAAP stars who were to suit up for their Asian professional teams last September.
Jerom in essence was given a choice to already showcase his remarkable talent abroad and earn big bucks, or aim to play an immortal role in Adamson University lore by aiming for a UAAP championship for his school in Season 85, Fr. Aldrin said.
Jerom chose the latter. And this time, in the off season of Season 85, after mounting a heroic drive to bring the Soaring Falcons as close to glory as possible, never mind an injured foot, Lastimosa made one final heave of the basketball despite several missed attempts in the do-ordie game against La Salle for a Final Four slot. It found its mark.
Adamson University went on to make its Final Four appearance—its first since 2018—despite having a dismal start to Season 85 campaign, despite being almost written off midway into the season. Because Jerom Lastimosa refused to say no. And tried again.
That will, that vision, that resilience is what makes Jerom Lastimosa great as a player. But his decision to stay one more year, give Adamson one more chance to try again and aim for the stars, is what makes Jerom Lastimosa a great human being.
“It is not that he doesn’t need the money,” Fr. Aldrin explained. “In fact he may need it the most among the players who were offered to play abroad. But he decided to stay.”
And this time, he is nixing the Korean Basketball League for school pride, a college degree and loyalty. How precious is that?
When UAAP Season 86 opens in September this year— back to its normal timetable—coach Nash Racela will have his solid cast of Falcons playing their birds-of-prey role to the hilt. He will still have Joem Sabandal, AP Manlapaz, Cedrick Manzano, import Lenda Douanga, Eli Ramos— younger brother of Dwight Ramos who has transferred from Ateneo, and Jerom Lastimosa.
Beyond the promise of a lucrative pro career, overseas adventure and basketball fame in more than just one playing field, the allure and compulsion of unfinished business can be a strong motivating factor as well.
In Season 86 the Soaring Falcons will be a must-watch team because of its intriguing story that began in Season 85. Will they finally take it higher this season and rule the skies? All eyes will be on this gritty team and its knight in shining armor who found romance and pursued it by committing to Adamson Basketball.