Rookie Lastimosa makes most of PBA debut, gets ‘welcome’ from veteran Arboleda

Carlo Lastimosa answers questions from reporters after the game. CELEST FLORES/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines – Barako Bull rookie Carlo Lastimosa anxiously waited for his number to be called.

And when it finally did, he hardly wasted a second of it Saturday night.

Lastimosa immediately announced his arrival – scoring his first points in the pros in his first ever attempt, making an open jumper from the right elbow just seconds after being fielded in early in the second period.

“We lost so, but I’m happy coach was able to put me in and I had a chance to play and I think I was able to show what I can do,” said the five-foot-11 guard Lastimosa, the 20th pick in the draft.

The former St. Benilde star Lastimosa had seven points in seven minutes by halftime and finished with a team-high 15 points on six-of-11 shooting from the field with two rebounds, two assists, a couple of steals and a turnover in just 18 minutes.

“Hopefully I’d be able to continue playing like this. But it’s sad that  we still lost,” he added, after the Energy fell at the hands of the Air21 Express for their third loss in a row.

“I didn’t expect this [kind of performance], I didn’t expect to play because we also have the likes of Willie Miller and Ronjay Buenafe in the lineup.”

Lastimosa knows having one good game is just a start, and showing up every night is another thing.

“I need to be consistent. I’m just a rookie, I can’t afford to have a bad game after having a good game.”

Lastimosa had a huge scratch on his neck and a busted lip as he spoke with reporters. He said he got it from Air21 bruiser Wynne Arboleda, but it was a no-call.

“It’s part of the game, that’s my welcome to the PBA moment,” he said with a laugh.