AFTER its best ever playoffs run in the PBA, Justin Arana and Converge expect big-time help to come for the team going to the mid-season Commissioner’s Cup.
Arana hopes top overall pick Justine Baltazar will finally be available by the next conference which starts on Nov. 27 and help the FiberXers sustain the gains of their stint in the Governors’ Cup.
Also coming on board for the team in the same conference is second round pick Pao Javillonar and hopefully, two more big men in Ben Philips and Ronan Santos.
Both Baltazar and Santos are finishing their stint with Pampanga in the MPBL, while Javillonar is still with Letran campaigning in the Season 100 of the NCAA.
Philips currently is in the US.
“Hopefully nandiyan na siya kasi malaking tulong si Balti. Siyempre 6’8 siya, then mas ma-stretch niya yung floor,” he said of the reigning MPBL MVP.
“Laking tulong niya rin kasi if ever nandiyan na siya sa loob. Mas may space ako makapag-laro sa ilalim, and then siya puwedeng ilalim or labas.”
Baltazar is expected to form a Twin Tower combination with Arana, who has been the pillar of the FiberXers’ frontcourt for the past three seasons.
“Tsaka yung iba pang bigs namin. Ako excited kasi may makakatulong ako,” said the 25-year-old Arana.
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He said Balti showed up in several of the FiberXers’ practices in the past.
“May mga practices na nandun siya. Pero sa ngayon ang focus niya sa playoffs nila (MPBL). Hopefully after niyan, deretso na siya sa amin,” Arana added.
He’s also thrilled at being reunited Santos, his former college teammate.
“Teammate ko siya dati sa UST, then sa Arellano. 6’7 yun na athletic. Malaking tulong yun sa akin,” Arana said.
Arana’s optimism came in the aftermath of Converge coming close to pulling a big-time upset against highly-favored San Miguel in their best-of-five quarterfinals series.
The FiberXers pushed the Beermen to a sudden-death Game 5, but broke down in the final six minutes to lose a close 109-105 match.
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