Lastimosa was one of the eight rookies of the Blue Eagles basketball team of the Ateneo de Manila University in the UAAP 1981-82 season, After a two-stint with Ateneo, Jojo transferred school when he enrolled at the University of San Jose Recoletos, a school in Cebu City. In June 1983, he joined elder brother Danny in the power-laden Mama’s Love basketball club team. It was there where he got his biggest break and exposure, his reentry in the Manila basketball scene via the premier amateur league (PABL). In this league, he was able to showcase his skills in basketball. He leaves his audience astounded with his cat-quick reflexes, more so whenever he suspends himself in mid-air and a lot of Rizal Memorial Coliseum’ habitués already likened him to the sensational Samboy Lim of Letran Knights.

In a short span of time, Jolas won MVP honors while playing for Mama’s Love in the first conference of the 1985 PABL season. The following year, he became teammates with Samboy Lim and they led the Lhuillier Jewelers to the championship of the PABL’s first conference. He spent his last two years in the amateur league with the Jewelers of coach Yayoy Alcoseba although he was a borrowed player when RFM-Swifts won their first PABL title in the 1987 International Invitational Cup and was voted Most Outstanding Player of the tournament, besting former national teammate Alvin Patrimonio.

Lastimosa, along with Jerry Codiñera, were the two early entries to the pro league signed by newcomer Purefoods Hotdogs. He was already groomed to be a future superstar in the PBA. Jolas made such impact in his first season and was voted Rookie of the year. He won his first PBA title with the Hotdogs in the 1990 Third Conference but his best years were with the Alaska Milkmen, following a trade with Boy Cabahug beginning the 1991 PBA season. Lastimosa overall won 9 championships with Alaska, including a grandslam in 1996. In the twilight of his career, Jolas moved to Pop Cola in the 2000-2001 season before returning to his old club Alaska Aces in his final year in 2002.