Balti banners ’24 draft class

MANILA, Philippines — Make way for Converge’s new twin tower of Justin Arana and freshman Justine Baltazar.

The FiberXers made Baltazar the top pick in yesterday’s PBA Season 49 Rookie Draft in a move that didn’t come as a surprise to many.

Standing above 6-foot-6, Baltazar plugged Converge’s hole in the middle as he’s set to form a deadly combo with Arana, the Season 47 Rookie of the Year who carried the bulk of frontline duties the past season.

“Sobrang saya ko na maka-teammate si Justin kasi nakalaban ko na lang siya dati sa UST nung college. So ‘yun, excited ako makasama siya para makatulong din ako kasi last year talaga wala siyang katulong, eh; kulang sila sa big man,” Baltazar said after taking the stage ahead of everyone.

The two-way big man fondly called “Balti” would feel right at home with his PBA club with a familiar face at the helm – coach Aldin Ayo.

“Two years ko nakasama si coach Aldin sa UAAP and then nakapag-champion kami ng isa for La Salle so alam ko na sistema ni coach Aldin. Excited ako na makasama na naman siya ulit,” said the pride of Mabalacat, Pampanga.

“Lahat ng hinahanap namin – big man na versatile – nakita namin kay Balti. Aside from skills and talent, we know him personally. We know he’s a winner and he’s going to do whatever it takes to help our team win,” said Ayo, whose team is willing to wait in case Baltazar needs to finish his contract with Pampanga in the MPBL first before coming on board.

Baltazar is largely seen as a key to the FiberXers’ turnaround bid off a woeful 3-19 season.

“Hindi ako dapat masyado magpa-pressure and then gagampanan ko lang role ko as a big man, kung anong maitutulong ko sa team,” he said.

After Baltazar, Fil-Am G-League veteran Sedrick Barefield was taken No. 2 overall by Blackwater followed by RJ Abarrientos (Barangay Ginebra), Kai Ballungay (Phoenix), Dave Ildefonso (NorthPort), Draft Combine MVP Jonnel Policarpio (NLEX) and Caelan Tiongson (Rain or Shine).

Fil-Swedish guard Felix Lemetti emerged as a surprise first-rounder as ROS took him No. 8 ahead of Jerom Lastimosa (Magnolia), Mark Nonoy (Terrafirma), CJ Cansino (Meralco) and Avan Nava (San Miguel Beer).

Francis Escandor was tabbed by the Elasto Painters to start the second round before Evan Nelle (NP), CJ Catapusan (TF), Mike Malonzo (ROS), Ahmad Hanapi (Ginebra), Brandon Ramirez (NLEX), Paolo Javillonar (Converge), Miguel Corteza (ROS), Ben Phillips (Converge), Paolo Hernandez (Ginebra), Kurt Reyson (Meralco) and Jason Credo (Converge).

Bossing tactician Jeff Cariaso felt they hit the jackpot with Barefield at No. 2.

“Barefield has been someone we’re looking at since Day 1. We’re happy he applied for the draft because we know he’s going to be a game-changer,” said Cariaso. “We asked teams he’s played for before and we learned that he’s a hard worker and a coachable player.”

The draft proceedings reached as far as the sixth round with Robbi Darang being chosen as 48th and last out of the 70-man pool by the Batang Pier.

Notes: There was an air of nostalgia when Ginebra coach Tim Cone drafted RJ Abarrientos at No. 3. Abarrientos’ uncle and a major player in Cone’s grand slam feat with Alaska in the 1990s, Johnny A., went up the stage to represent his nephew. “Thankful ako I retired with Ginebra and now they picked RJ,” said Johnny. Cone can’t hide his excitement to coach another Abarrientos. “A lot of great guys we’re looking at but just can’t ignore the bloodlines of Abarrientos,” he said. “I told Johnny if RJ can be half the player his uncle was, he’s going to be the best player in the PBA.”