MARCIO Lassiter took to heart his brief conversation with PBA great Jimmy Alapag just hours before he reset one of the league's coveted individual scoring record of all time.
Lassiter, 37, appreciated the gesture of the former MVP after talking and encouraging him to go and break his eight-season record for the most number of three point shots made.
"We just talked a little bit. He showed his gratitude, he was proud of the accomplishment," said the San Miguel wingman of his exchange of text messages with Alapag on Saturday as he was closing in on surpassing the now Sacramento Kings assistant coach as the PBA's all-time leader in three-point shooting.
It didn't take long after that chat when Lassiter finally claimed the title as the new Three-Point King of Asia's oldest pro league by hitting a total of six from beyond the arc in San Miguel's massive 131-82 thrashing of Barangay Ginebra Sunday before a huge crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Lassiter needed only to hit three to move past Alapag, but he doubled the numbers so much so he finished with a 1,254 total by the time the record-setting game was over.
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In all, he was 6-of-8 from long distance and finished with 18 points in the win that formalized San Miguel's entry into the Governors' Cup quarterfinals.
Lassiter disclosed he was humbled by Alapag's gesture of wanting to see him personally break his record if only he was here in the country.
"He wished he could be here," said Lassiter of Alapag, who was a teammate of him during their time together with the original Smart Gilas Pilipinas team under coach Rajko Toroman.
"But he said he'll be full-on, just be there supporting," added the Fil-Am from San Francisco, California.
"He just gave his wishes and said hi to the family. And 'just keep on pushing the needle.'"
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At halftime of the game, Commissioner Willie Marcial officially presented the basketball to Lassiter, who was joined in center stage by his wife and five children as he savored one of the special moments of his career.(RG)
