BLACKWATER has reassured Carlo Lastimosa of its faith despite a recent controversy, rewarding the rising PBA star with a three-year contract extension on Wednesday.
Exactly a week after the Elite’s 124-120 overtime loss to Phoenix that sparked allegations that he deliberately missed the potential game-winning free-throw late in regulation, Lastimosa signed a new deal with the sophomore franchise.
“Sobrang malaking pasasalamat kasi considering na galing pa ako sa issue last week, ngayon nakita ng tao na yung mismong owner at management namin ay may tiwala sa akin,” Lastimosa told Spin.ph on Wednesday. “So for sure naman, nakikita nila na yung free throw na yun, missed free throw lang talaga – at walang kung anong iniisip nila.”
Lastimosa, whose current two-year contract would’ve expired in August, expressed gratitude toward management after he inked the new deal in the presence of owner Dioceldo Sy and team manager Johnson Martinez, as well as the player’s manager, Charlie Dy.
“Yung tiwala nila, nandun talaga, kasi as early as now, binigyan na nila ako ng extension,” the 25-year-old cager said. “May plano sila for me and the team.”
“For me, gusto ko talaga maglaro sa Blackwater,” he added. “Gusto kong ma-angat yung team and yung franchise and yung company.”
[See Lastimosa rues missed free throw, left at a loss by game-fixing suspicion]
While admitting he hasn’t had a chance to talk personally with Elite coach Leo Isaac recently, Lastimosa implied they are in good terms.
“Hindi naman personal kami nag-usap, pero in-address lang niya as a team na walang gusto na lumabas 'yun (post-game talk),” said the former College of St. Benilde standout, insisting details of the dugout meeting should've stayed private.
“Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin nila masasagot kung sino naglabas ng ganun kasi kung ano yung mapag-usapan sa loob ng pamilya, dun lang sa pamilya. Hindi na kailangan malaman pa ng kapitbahay o kung ano man.”
“Ngayon, buo na 'yung family namin ulit sa Blackwater,” he added as his team is already eliminated from the Commissioner’s Cup playoff race. “Excited kami for the upcoming conference.”
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
