Jojo Lastimosa

Isabelo "Jojo" Lastimosa Jr. (born March 10, 1964) is a Filipino professional basketball coach and former player. He is the team manager for the TNT Tropang 5G of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He played in the PBA for the Purefoods Hotdogs, the Alaska Aces and the Pop Cola Panthers from 1988 to 2002. He was also a member of the Philippines' national basketball team during the 1980s and 1990s. He also played for the University of San Jose–Recoletos in Cebu City. He had also a stint with the Ateneo de Manila. He is known by the nicknames "Jolas", "Mr. Clutch", "The 4th Quarter Man", and "PBA Jordan" for his deadly perimeter shooting.

College and amateur career Lastimosa was one of the eight rookies of the Blue Eagles basketball team of the Ateneo de Manila University in the UAAP 1981-82 season, After a two-stint with Ateneo, Lastimosa transferred to the University of San Jose–Recoletos in Cebu City. In June 1983, he joined elder brother Danny in the power-laden Mama's Love basketball club team. It was there where he got his biggest break and exposure, his reentry in the Manila basketball scene via the premier amateur league (PABL). In this league, he was able to showcase his skills in basketball.

In a short span of time, Lastimosa won MVP honors while playing for Mama's Love in the first conference of the 1985 PABL season. The following year, he became teammates with Samboy Lim and they led the Lhuillier Jewelers to the championship of the PABL's first conference. He spent his last two years in the amateur league with the Jewelers of coach Yayoy Alcoseba although he was a borrowed player when RFM-Swifts won their first PABL title in the 1987 International Invitational Cup and was voted Most Outstanding Player of the tournament, besting former national teammate Alvin Patrimonio.

Professional career Purefoods Lastimosa, along with Jerry Codiñera, were the two early entries to the pro league signed by newcomer Purefoods Hotdogs. He was already groomed to be a future superstar in the PBA. Jolas made such impact in his first season and was voted Rookie of the year. He won his first PBA title with the Hotdogs in the 1990 Third Conference. He was in trade with Boy Cabahug to Alaska beginning the 1991 season.

Alaska Even he was a rising star at Purefoods, he has his best years were with the Alaska Milkmen. 9 of his 10 championships was won with Alaska, including a grand slam in 1996. One of his notable clutch shots was in Game 5 in the 1996 All-Filipino Cup finals. Pop Cola In the twilight of his career, Jolas moved to Pop Cola in the 2000 to 2001 season.

Return to Alaska He returned to his old club Alaska Aces in his final year in 2002.

Coaching career

Alaska Lastimosa served as an assistant coach of the Aces under Tim Cone, Joel Banal and Luigi Trillo.

NLEX After leaving Alaska, he served as an assistant coach for NLEX Road Warriors.

FEU Tamaraws Lastimosa was reunited with his former Alaska teammate Johnny Abarrientos, when Lastimosa became an assistant coach for FEU Tamaraws.

TNT While he was the manager of TNT, he was assigned as team's head coach and Slavoljub Gorunovic as active consultant, after Chot Reyes decided to focus on his commitment on the Philippine National Team. He was the second Tropang Giga head coach to have an active consultant after Bong Ravena. Lastimosa guided the team to win the 2023 Governors' Cup, their first ever Governors' Cup title since the founding of the franchise. Lastimosa also the first coach with active consultant to win a championship, and first to win a title on his first conference of coaching since former Joel Banal two decades ago, a former TNT coach that time.

Managerial career Lastimosa was appointed as manager of TNT Tropang Giga in 2022.

National team career Lastimosa played for the Philippine national basketball team for two occasions of Asian Games, first in 1986 as an amateur player, and in 1998 as a professional. Both occasions won bronze medal.

In 1998 with the Philippine Centennial Team, he was notable for being benched in the majority of games, and got mad at Tim Cone, the coach of the team, and when Lastimosa inserted vs. Kazakhstan (second meeting against the team and the bronze medal game, he performed well that made the Philippines won bronze medal. The game was known as the "anger game". After that game, Lastimosa did not spoke to Cone after months.

Coaching record

PBA

Career highlights PBA highlights Member of the 1996 Alaska Grand Slam Team 10-Time PBA Champion (1 With Purefoods, 9 with Alaska ) Rookie of the Year in 1988 3-time Mythical First Team Selection (1991, 1996 and 1998) 4-time Mythical Second Team Selection (1988, 1995, 1997 and 1999) 10-time PBA All-Star 1992 PBA All Star Game MVP 1996 All Filipino Cup finals MVP PBA 2,000 assist club Member PBA 500 3-points club Member PBA 12,000 points club Member Member, PBA's 25 Greatest Players Member, PBA's 40 Greatest Players

Other highlights Member, 1986 Asian Games (Bronze Medal) Member, 1987 William Jones Cup Member, 1998 PBA Centennial Team Member, 1998 William Jones Cup (Champions) Member, 1998 Asian Games (Bronze Medal) Member, PBL's Top 20 Players of All-Time