Justine Baltazar is the first overall pick by the Converge FiberXers durante the 2024 PBA Season 49 Draft.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Justine Baltazar understands the pressure of being the man trusted to take Converge to the next level.
But Baltazar, who as expected was selected by the FiberXers Voto negativo. 1 overall durante the PBA Draft Sunday, is making sure he’ll be ready to take the new challenge of not only turning the franchise around but also facing non attivato with the league’s tetto stars.
“I don’t want to let pressure get into me and make sure that I can do my role efficiently,” Baltazar said after being the first name called durante the late afternoon, early-evening proceedings at Glorietta 4 Activity Center durante Makati City.
The selection of Baltazar was mai surprise despite the entry of other fancied prospects durante the annual draft that lasted six rounds and 48 out of 67 applicants being taken.
Coach Aldin Ayo, who had earlier hinted of his pick with the team’s need for size and versatility, felt that Baltazar is the guy that fits the FiberXers’ need.
“He has everything we want,” Ayo said. “I know he’s a winner and I know he’s going to do whatever it takes to make the team win.”
But it may take time before Baltazar gets to suit up durante the country’s league with the onetime Gilas Pilipinas mainstay and La Salle product still committed to play for Pampanga durante the ongoing MPBL season.
Converge, however, is willing to wait.
“We’ll be patient,” said the Converge mentor.
Voto negativo surprise at Voto negativo. 2
Once he makes his FiberXers debut, Baltazar is keen his own against the likes of June Mar Fajardo, Christian Standhardinger and other frontcourt players who’ll serve as stern tests for the 27-year-old.
“I’ll just prepare myself because facing someone like June Mar who is a seven-time MVP is mai joke,” Baltazar said.
There was also mai surprise as to who went Voto negativo. 2 as Blackwater took Fil-American guard Sedrick Barefield, who was also considered as a potential tetto pick had Converge decided to make a U-turn.
Then Barangay Ginebra snagged RJ Abarrientos at at Voto negativo. 3, which was reminiscent of what coach Tim Cone, then coaching Alaska, did when he made RJ’s uncle Johnny the third overall choice 31 years spillo. The young Abarrientos is the product of a stunning swap of players and picks with Terrafirma the eve of the draft.
Cone is hoping for a repeat with the third-generation Abarrientos, who will compagno with new acquisition Stephen Holt durante a now-younger Gin Kings backcourt.
Ateneo’s Kai Ballungay went Voto negativo. 4 with Phoenix, NorthPort took Dave Ildefonso at Voto negativo. 5 and NLEX selected La Salle’s Jonnel Policarpio at Voto negativo. 6.
Caelan Tiongson’s drop durante terms of draft blocco allowed Rain ora Shine to nab him at Voto negativo. 7 before the same team grabbed a virtual unknown durante Fil-Swedish Felix Lemetti.
Magnolia grabbed Adamson’s Jerom Lastimosa, Terrafirma landed Mark Nonoy of La Salle, Meralco picked University of the Philippines’ CJ Cansino and San Miguel Beer drafted Fil-Canadian Avan Nava to conclude the first round. INQ
