AFTER acquiring Yeng Guiao as its new head coach, NLEX landed high-scoring Carlo Lastimosa from Blackwater in exchange for James Forrester and the Road Warriors’ second-round pick in Sunday’s Philippine Basketball Association Rookie Draft.
Team Manager Ronald Dulatre confirmed the deal on Wednesday saying the former College of Saint Benilde Star is a welcome addition to the team.
“With Carlo, we fortify our guard rotation. He’s a combo guard and an instant scorer and slasher,” Dulatre told BusinessMirror. “For sure, he will fit in the system of Coach Yeng.”
“Carlo is a proven scorer. He will be a big addition to our guard rotation,” Guiao said. “I’m sure he can adopt easily into our system and complement the game of our big men and wings at the same time.”
The 26-year-old Lastimosa, who started his career with Barako Bull, was the Governors’ Cup’s No. 8 scorer, averaging 21.8 points per game, the only other local in the top 10 in scoring after GlobalPort’s Terrence Romeo (26.44).
Lastimosa became an All-Star the past season but that accolade was never a factor on why the Elite agreed to send him to NLEX.
Image credits: Nonoy Lacza