Carlo Lastimosa leaves St. Benilde

MANILA, Philippines—St. Benilde guard Carlo Lastimosa has quit the Blazers over what NCAA Management Committee representative Henry Atayde called as a disagreement between the player’s camp and the school over the academic policy on student athletes.

Atayde is hopeful that the issue can still be resolved, saying that Lastimosa’s surprising departure was a case of “miscommunication.”

“We are not closing the door on him yet,” Atayde said. “At this moment, emotions are still running high.”

Atayde said Lastimosa’s family and a school official had met Thursday night to resolve the issue. Hours later, Lastimosa announced on his twitter account that he has left the team.

Atayde was quick to quell speculations that the 2010 Rookie of the Year is already transferring to another NCAA school.

Lastimosa, who has been instrumental to the Blazers’ Final Four drive this season, is the  second player to leave the team this season after Mark Romero, who moved with his family to the United States.