Matt Nieto inks fresh 2-year deal with NLEX

MANILA, Philippines -- The NLEX Road Warriors will have guard Matt Nieto making plays for two more years.

NLEX, which fell in the quarterfinals of the PBA Philippine Cup, signed the heady guard to a two-year extension, the team announced.

The deal was sealed on Thursday at the NLEX office in Balintawak, Caloocan City.

Nieto said he is grateful for the extension.

"I am happy to be given an extension by NLEX. This is where I grew and matured," he said in Filipino.

"I am thankful for the trust of president Luigi [Bautista], governor Ronald [Dulatre] and my coaches. I will repay their trust," he added.

The guard was picked by the Road Warriors in the 2019 PBA Rookie Draft in the Gilas round.

In 11 games this conference, he averaged 5.3 points, 3.1 assists and 1.7 rebounds per game.

Dulatre, for his part, said that Nieto is "one of the cornerstones of the NLEX franchise."

"Even when he was a rookie, he showed great leadership to our team. In fact, he was our team captain in PBA Season 48," he said.

After the playoff push, the guard said the team is hungrier now.

"We will work hard this off-season with the goal of having a better standing and position next conference," he said.

"We will all step up because now we know the role and strength of every one in our team."