Jojo Lastimosa is one of only five coaches in PBA history who have won a championship in their first tournament.
Jojo Lastimosa achieved many great things as he coached the TNT Tropang Giga to the 2023 Governors’ Cup championship against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. Two of his biggest milestones were as follows:
- He won a PBA title in his first tournament. With the feat, Lastimosa joined Chot Reyes, Joel Banal, Ryan Gregorio, and Eric Altamirano as the only tacticians to accomplish the feat.
- He won the Governors' Cup finals against Tim Cone, who is widely considered as the GOAT PBA coach.
Despite his success, the TNT team manager remains a temporary replacement for Reyes while the latter is preparing Gilas Pilipinas for the FIBA World Cup. But it wouldn't be surprising if TNT management ultimately decides to put Coach Jolas in charge for the long haul after leading the franchise to its ninth PBA crown
Lastimosa addressed that possibility at the postgame presser after the Tropang Giga clinched the title in Game 6.
“It might change everything. But it remains to be seen if this is really a one-off. Sa pagkakaalam ko, this is a one-off,” said the man known as Mr. Fourth Quarter during his playing days.
He added, however, that things will ultimately boil down to the decision of the higher-ups.
“But I don’t know what MVP [Manny V Pangilinan] will do, what Mr. Ricky Vargas will do, what Mr. Al Panlilio will do.”
Whatever decision the bosses come up with, Lastimosa vowed to stay ready either as a team manager or as TNT's chief tactician—or may be even both.
“I’ll be ready just in case. I can be a manager and a coach at the same time. I’m still doing my managerial job, by the way,” Lastimosa claimed.
Juggling two jobs might not be ideal. But we can’t argue with the results produced by Coach Jolas and his wards. Maybe he deserves to stay at the helm a little longer. After all, he assured everyone that he can multi-task.
“I can do both,” Lastimosa reiterated.