Justine Baltazar (No. 19) finishes with a career-high 20 points that went with 10 rebounds for the FiberXers. —PBA IMAGES
Justine Baltazar’s performance that propelled Converge closer to a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup seems like a clear indication of him getting past the adjustment stage in the big league.
“I am now 100-percent comfortable with my team,” Baltazar said in Filipino on Sunday after posting a career-high 20 points on top of 10 rebounds, three steals and two blocks in the FiberXers’ 127-109 rout of the Blackwater Bossing at Ynares Center here in Antipolo City.
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Now Baltazar, snagged as the first overall pick in the last Draft but who joined the team late because of commitments in another league, is set for his biggest test yet by facing one of his idols in June Mar Fajardo as Converge seeks to end the eliminations on a high against San Miguel Beer.
Winning that match will secure the much-needed quarters bonus.
Converge improved to 8-3 to move up to second spot in the table, but concerns over the injury of its other young big in Justin Arana was immediately downplayed by the player itself and coach Franco Atienza.
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Arana left late in the third period while being helped by assistant coaches Danny Ildefonso and Willie Miller for what the third-year mainstay said was a hyperextended left knee after going for a layup.
Arana uncertain
His status for the matchup with the Beermen on Friday in this city will be known in the following days, and that might mean the need for Baltazar to double his efforts against the Beermen, who are struggling in the standings at 4-5 after a 100-93 loss to the Meralco Bolts in Candon, Ilocos Sur last Saturday.
But Converge is glad to see Baltazar gain steady progress since his highly-anticipated PBA debut a month ago, which he hopes to continue against Fajardo.
“We all know how dominant he is underneath,” Baltazar said. “But we will make sure that we’re prepared and ready.”
Fellow rookie Jordan Heading added 22 points with three rebounds and five assists, import Cheick Diallo put up 20 points and 18 rebounds and Alec Stockton posted 19 points and seven assists in putting the FiberXers ahead of other twice-to-beat hopefuls the Bolts, NorthPort Batang Pier and guest team Hong Kong Eastern, who all have 7-3 cards.
Leading the race
TNT is still above the leaderboard at 6-2 due to a higher winning percentage than the teams mentioned.
Blackwater fell to 2-8, all but assured of missing the quarterfinals unless it wins its last two games and sees the likes of San Miguel, Magnolia, NLEX and Phoenix suffer stunning slip-ups.
NLEX, which had lost five straight, and Phoenix were facing at press time, with both entering the crucial tiff tied at 3-6.
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Import George King finished with 34 points spiked by four quadruples, 13 rebounds and six assists for the Bossing. INQ
