Ni ERNEST HERNANDEZ
Sa kabila ng matikas na kampanya ng sweet-shootingna si Lassiter, tila naisnab ang kanyang husay at galing.
Tinanggap ni coach Leo Austria ang ‘Coach of the Year award’, habang nakopo ni June Mar Fajardo ang ikaapat na MVP title. Kinilala si Chris Ross bilang Best Player of the Conference sa PBA Commissioner’s Cup, gayundin ang Defensive Player of the Year award, habang si Alex Cabagnot ang pinarangalan bilang PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals MVP at kabilang si Arwin Santos sa Mythical Five.
Goodbye PBA? John Amores, tinanggalan na ng professional license!
Si Lassiter? Nganga!
Apat na Beermen ang napabilang sa Mythical team, ngunit hindi kabilang ang reliable scorer na si Lassiter. Tao lamang siya na nagdamdam sa kaganapan, ngunit, iginiit ni Lassiter na walang dahilan para magmukmok.
“I told myself I wasn’t going to comment on that,” sambit ni Lassiter.
“I let it go on by the way side. It hurt a bit, but I’m always proud of them. I’m proud of my teammates – they deserve it. If I didn’t make it then it is what it is,” aniya.
Mas mahalaga, aniya, ang makatulong sa koponan sa hangaring makapagwagi ng kampeonato. Ngunit, iginiit niyang, ginamit niyang motivation ang mga kaganapan para mas mahinog ang talento sa laban.
“In my heart, I know that competing and winning games is what matters. It is always an honor to get those individual awards, but I’m just going to keep working harder, you know? Some people say that I got snubbed, but it is what it is,”aniya.
Sa nakalipas na season, naitala ni Lassiter ang scoring performance na 14.9 puntos, averaged na apat na rebounds, 2.8 assists, at 1.4 steals.
Ayon sa 30-anyos veteran, prioridad niya ang kampeonato sa koponan, bago ang individual award.
“I just got to keep playing well to help us win championships. If I can do that every year, I’m happy. It’s going to make me happy and my company happy,” sambit ni Lassiter.
“It is great to get individual awards but what comes automatically first is the team. I’m just willing to sacrifice. I could easily do those things, but it is all about sacrifice. I’m just glad for my teammates to win it but keep working harder and performing at a higher level and see what happens,” aniya.
