Few days removed from his MPBL duties, Justine Baltazar finally made his PBA debut with Converge in the Season 49 Commissioner's Cup on Thursday, Dec. 12.
Justine Baltazar was still groping for form when he made his PBA debut for Converge in the Season 49 Commissioner's Cup on Thursday, Dec. 12.
Hobbled by early foul trouble, Baltazar coughed up five points, four rebounds, three assists and one steal in nearly 21 minutes of play.
In the end, the FiberXers’ lost to league-leading NorthPort, 108-101.
Fresh from leading Pampanga to a second straight MPBL crown, Baltazar admitted he is still trying to get the hang of playing with his Converge teammates.
“Kulang din kami sa amuyan ng mga kasama ko. Kasi two days pa lang akong nagpapraktis sa kanila,” Baltazar told reporters after the match at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate
“Marami pa namang games, so kailangan kong bumawi. Nangangapa pa 'ko sa mga kasama ko.”
It would not take much time, though, to integrate himself with the Converge personnel as he already knows a couple of them.
The 6-foot-7 forward played for now Converge assistant coach Charles Tiu and with Jordan Heading in Strong Group Athletics’ Dubai International Basketball Championship campaign. The team, which also featured NBA legend Dwight Howard, wound up second in the competition.
Heading and Baltazar also played together in the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers and the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, Serbia under coach Tab Baldwin.
Time will tell if that familiarity will go a long way for the FiberXers, who are looking to make another deep playoff run.
“Hindi naman ako nanibago kay coach Charles. And nakasama ko pa si Heading sa SGA. Alam ko 'yung galaw ni Heading. Maganda rin 'yung ipinakita niya,” Baltazar said of Heading, who erupted with a team-high 30 points he complemented with six rebounds and six assists.
After an arduous MPBL stint that took a toll on his body, Baltazar is slowly regaining his full strength in hopes of making a big impact for Converge for the rest of the mid-season joust.
“Hindi rin ako masyadong makagalaw sa loob. Kasi ganoon nga, sunog ako and then kailangan ko talaga ng pahinga. Pero ibinibigay ko pa rin 'yung best ko sa loob,” he said.