TRAPPED AND TALENTED | MATT NIETO

MATT NIETO | NLEX ROAD WARRIORS | PG

It’s a virtual one-for-two trade—with a twist.

On paper, Jordan Heading was swapped one-for-one for the rights to Mikey Williams. But in reality, TNT also walked away with the rights to former Ateneo shooting guard/small forward Mike Nieto, making this feel more like a one-for-two deal.

Normally, a trade like this would raise eyebrows. But based on all available info, it went through the proper channels. Still, you can't help but feel like this is a subtle sign of something bigger, like the Ateneo core in Converge quietly being phased out.

In 2023, The Philippine Star reported that third-rounder Inand Fornilos signed with Converge. Spin.ph then had an article about BJ Andrade, Pat Maagdenberg, and Kamron Vigan-Fleming all inking two-year contracts with the FiberXers. Since the PBA Draft took place on September 17 that year, those deals could be set to expire sometime between September and October this year.

Fast forward to 2025, and Andrade has already been traded to Blackwater for Rey Suerte. Meanwhile, Mike Nieto previously came to Converge in a trade with Rain or Shine, which cost them their second-round picks for Season 49 (2024) and Season 50 (2025). The 2024 pick turned into DLSU standout Francis Escandor, and the 2025 pick could become either Yeng Guiao’s annual unsigned draftee (see Gayford Rodriguez, Kevin Espinosa, John Grospe, AC Soberano, and RJ Ramirez) or a possible starting-caliber big man, depending on Luis Villegas’ recovery.

So yes, the Ateneo presence in Converge is thinning out. But this seems more like Delta Pineda’s side of the franchise slowly asserting its influence, rather than a random roster shuffle.

For Mike Nieto, this might actually be a blessing in disguise. He’s now heading to a team whose boss is known to be an Ateneo supporter. That’s a good landing spot if you're looking to revive or steady your career.

But really, this blog isn’t about Ateneo. It’s not about Converge, or TNT. It’s not even about Mikey Williams or Mike Nieto.

This blog is about Mike's twin brother.

If there’s a Nieto brother people think of first, it’s usually Matt.

In the 2019 PBA Draft’s special Gilas round, five cadets were selected—Matt Nieto went third. Unlike his twin Mike, who carved a niche as Ateneo’s enforcer, Matt was the lead playmaker. During Ateneo's title-clinching win in UAAP Season 82, Matt scored 14 points in their 86–79 victory over UST. That team was stacked. Aside from Mike Nieto, Andrade, and Maagdenberg, his teammates included international players Thirdy Ravena, Angelo Kouame, and SJ Belangel, as well as current PBA players Isaac Go, William Navarro, Gian Mamuyac, and Matthew Daves, and former PBA player Adrian Wong.

Left out of the game but were with the Ateneo roster are international player Geo Chiu, and PBA players Tyler Tio and Troy Mallillin.

Matt came from a long line of elite Ateneo point guards, including LA Tenorio, Olsen Racela, and Jun Reyes. And for a while, he looked ready to continue that tradition in the pros. But somewhere along the way, the momentum stalled. He waited for a breakout moment... and instead hit a ceiling.

That ceiling?

It's Jong Uichico.

Since the Ron Jacobs protégé took over as head coach of NLEX, things haven’t quite clicked for Matt. His minutes dipped. His impact became inconsistent. He still shows flashes of his UAAP days, but he needs a team where he can thrive again.

Ironically, I’ve been critical of how Yeng Guiao handled former stars and second-gen players. But to his credit, he gave Matt more opportunities than expected. The issue now isn’t coaching—it’s competition.

You look at NLEX, and the numbers don’t lie. Uichico and chief assistant coach Siot Tanquingcen are pushing the right buttons. It's like the budget-friendly version of the old San Miguel Beermen. While guys like Nieto, Kevin Alas, Sean Anthony, Richie Rodger, Enoch Valdez, Jonnel Policarpio, and Baser Amer have played spot minutes, the team is thriving in the playoffs thanks to Xyrus Torres, JB Bahio, Brandon Ramirez, and Javee Mocon. Mocon, who looked out of place in his first NLEX season, is now back to his Rain or Shine form. Bahio—an unsigned rookie from the 2023 PBA Draft—was a late-season addition and is putting up near double-doubles. Ramirez is also a great find in the 2024 second round. And Torres, a third-round pick from FEU, has evolved into a lethal shooter.

Matt Nieto has suited up in all of NLEX’s first nine games in the Philippine Cup. But considering his Gilas pedigree, fans expected more. He was, after all, part of the group meant to be emergency fill-ins for national duty. Alongside his brother Mike, Isaac Go, Allyn Bulanadi, and Rey Suerte, Matt had to wait a year before finally getting to play in the PBA.

But here’s the truth: if NLEX has to choose between Matt and superstar combo guard Robert Bolick at point guard, it’s Bolick every time.

Before Matt Nieto can fully step into a bigger role, NLEX needs to prioritize Kevin Alas.

Right now, it’s clear that Alas is still working his way back from his third ACL injury. This season feels like a confidence rebuild for him more than anything else. And honestly, you can’t blame either side—both Alas and NLEX have every reason to be cautious, even with the advances in sports medicine.

In theory, a backcourt featuring Nieto at the point, with Bolick and Alas as scoring threats, sounds exciting. But it also presents a problem: size. That trio would leave the Road Warriors small and vulnerable on defense.

And then there's the Bolick factor. Right now, he's doing the heavy lifting—he’s both the team’s primary scorer and top playmaker. Essentially, he’s filling the roles of both Nieto and Alas, and still has room to elevate his game. That’s a testament to Bolick’s talent… but also a hint that Alas is still finding his form, and Nieto still needs to carve out his identity in the rotation.

At best, Matt may now serve as Bolick’s main backup. But if he’s serious about maximizing his prime years, then maybe it’s time to consider a move. Whether it’s via trade or being “farmed out” to sister teams like Blackwater or Phoenix, a change of scenery might be what he needs.

Matt still has time. He's only 28 years old. In PBA terms, he’s still young. Maybe he becomes a dependable supersub in a contender, like Jun Reyes once was when he was traded from Pepsi to Alaska. Or maybe he pulls an Olsen Racela—stuck in limbo as Dindo Pumaren's backup in Purefoods until San Miguel unlocked his full potential.

Wherever he ends up, here’s hoping we haven’t seen the best of Matt Nieto just yet.

As for Mike Nieto, I genuinely believe he’ll find his footing with TNT.

Sure, I’ve spent most of this blog focused on his brother Matt, but there’s a reason Mike opened the conversation. I always felt Converge wasn’t using him to his full potential.

Honestly, I would’ve played him more over MJ Garcia. That’s no knock on Garcia—it’s just that Converge has a habit of chasing flashy new talent, sometimes at the expense of proven role players.

Mike isn’t just a physical presence or a defensive stopper—he brings stability and hustle, the kind of traits that quietly extend a player's PBA career. And with TNT still figuring out how to fill the void left by Rey Nambatac, there’s a real opportunity here. Ping Exciminiano and Almond Vosotros haven’t quite sealed that role, and while Nieto may not have Nambatac’s offensive instincts, that just means the spot is still wide open. Even with Simon Enciso, Kim Aurin, and Paul Varilla in the mix, nothing’s set in stone.

In the bigger picture, this move could benefit both Nieto and TNT, especially if Jordan Heading ends up outperforming Mikey Williams. There’s a lot of upside to go around.