THE latest trade involving Converge has given them an additional pick for the next draft to beef up their roster.
The FiberXers on Thursday gave up Jerrick Balanza to Magnolia in exchange for the Hotshots’ second-round pick in the Season 49 draft.
Converge eyes to improve core
Converge has now amassed three second-round selections to use to improve its core, based on transactions posted in the PBA website.
That is aside from their first round draft pick, with Converge expected to take the No. 1 choice due to its poor record this season.
The two other second round picks of Converge came from previous transactions, one of which came when the franchise was still with Alaska.
One of the picks came from San Miguel as part of a June 2022 trade when Converge shipped Robbie Herndon to the Beermen for the FiberXers’ 49th Season and 50th Season second round draft choice.
The other pick was from a January 2020 transaction when Alaska also got Mike DiGregorio in exchange for Simon Enciso.
The trade with Magnolia actually made up for the original second-round pick which Converge lost to Rain or Shine when the FiberXers acquired Mike Nieto in May 2023. Aside from the 49th Season second-round pick, the Elasto Painters also received the 50th season second-rounder of the FiberXers in that trade.
The FiberXers will have a golden opportunity to bolster their roster in next season’s draft with the picks that they have.
Baltazar eyed as No. 1 pick
The No. 1 pick could be Justine Baltazar if the current Pampanga Giant Lanterns star and MPBL MVP decides to go to the PBA. And even though these are only second-round picks, past drafts have showed that quality is still available that late in the selection.
Just for this season, second-round picks such as Ricci Rivero of Phoenix, Enoch Valdez and Jhan Nermal of NLEX, and Adrian Nocum of Rain or Shine have been contributing for their current teams.
Even Converge’s second rounders in Bryan Santos and JL Delos Santos have become part of the team’s rotation this season.
Last season, Converge actually had four picks in the first two rounds with the FiberXers acquiring Schonny Winston at No. 9 and BJ Andrade at No. 10 in the first round.
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