JUSTINE Baltazar’s decision to stay in the MPBL before jumping to the PBA has drawn comparisons with the road taken by Rommel Adducul , the one-time college star who forshook a stint with the pioneer professional league and instead chose to play for an upstart rival league.
Baltazar chose to momentarily stay with the Pampanga Giant Lanterns which is currently in contention to win a second consecutive MPBL title before joining Converge, the PBA team which drafted him first overall in Season 49 of the Rookie Draft.
There are, however, certain differences between the case of Baltazar and Adducul. The most glaring being that Adducul initially skipped the PBA draft although he could have easily been one of its top picks in the 1998 rookie draft which was headlined by Danny Ildefonso.
On the other hand, Baltazar thought of joining the draft, tried his luck overseas, entered the draft anew, was picked first, and then was not given a release by his MPBL club who wanted him to be around until its own season is over.
READ: Baltazar can't sign PBA contract until end of MPBL season
Meanwhile, Adducul, the three-time NCAA MVP with San Sebastian, had no intention at all to play in the PBA because the rival league Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) apparently had offered him a bigger contract than what PBA teams could afford then.
Adducul would spend five seasons in the regional league before it closed shop in 2002. He eventually joined the PBA where he was picked second overall by Ginebra in 2003.
Looking back on the path that he took, the now-Adamson assistant coach concluded that Baltazar may have his own reasons for not immediately playing in the PBA although it is widely acknowledged he is staying with the Giant Lanterns because his contract has not yet ended.
Adducul however said there might be some other reasons.
“I do believe sa timing. You cannot question timing,” he said. “Siguro may ibang naiisip siya bago siya mag-PBA kaya siya nag-stay muna siya sa MPBL.”
Meanwhile, Adducul may have missed five years of PBA play but he said he has no regrets from the decision he made then.
“Kumbaga naka-plano na talaga sa akin nung time na yun yung mga gagawin ko before I go to the PBA. Para sa akin, kailangan mag-trabaho muna ako, mag-gain pa ng experience sa MBA,” he said.
It also helped that Manila was the first to offer the 6-foot-6 center a contract, locking him in as one of MBA’s pioneers. Adducul was so happy with his stay there that he feels he would have stayed in the MBA longer had it continued to survive.
During his MBA career, Adducul won the MVP award in 2000 and claimed two MBA crowns, first with the Metrostars in 1999 and then with Batangas Blades in 2001.
He said all his life, it's the chase for basketball glory that him made go wherever it is available.
“Syempre di masa-satisfy yung career mo sa basketball kung di ka magcha-champion. Kaya very grateful din ako kasi yung career ko as a basketball player, nagawa ko yung mga yun,” said Adducul, who won championships in the NCAA with the Golden Stags, in the PBL with Welcoat, and, eventually, in the PBA with Ginebra and Purefoods.
Baltazar’s own career path, even with the future still ahead of him, is nothing to scoff at. He won titles with La Salle in the UAAP and one with Pampnga in the MPBL where he also won MVP honors last season.
As similar as their paths may be, Adducul is wishing the best for Baltazar’s career.
“He’s a great player. Hopefully ma-sustain niya yung ganoong nilalaro niya. Malaking bagay din siya sa team every time na naglalaro siya kaya sana mas humaba pa yung playing career niya sa PBA,” he said.
“Sigurado ako na hinog na siya kasi yung experience niya sa MPBL, madadala niya sa PBA. Kaya sinasabi ko at the end of the day, it’s destiny and timing.”
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