JUSTINE Baltazar finally got a taste of the PBA on Thursday when he made his debut with Converge in the Commissioner’s Cup.
Just five days after he played his last game in the MPBL by winning a championship with the Pampanga Giant Lanterns, the No. 1 pick in the 49th Season draft had five points, four rebounds, three assists, and one steal in the FiberXers’ 108-101 defeat over NorthPort.
READ: Munzon clutch again as NorthPort spoils Balti's Converge debut
Baltazar only played for 20 minutes and 43 seconds in his first PBA game, with his numbers not the usual production he is pumping in the MPBL.
But that was expected as Baltazar only had few practices with the FiberXers since the Giant Lanterns were coming off a championship just last Saturday.
'Balti' said Converge is also managing his minutes since he is coming off a finals stint in the MPBL, but is ready with whatever playing time he is given in the next games.
“Sa akin kasi, playing time ko medyo may limit kasi galing ako sa kabila, sunog ako. Ready lang ako. Basta ready lang ako kapag binunot ako,” said Baltazar.
“Kumbaga amuyan (pa) ng mga kasama ko kasi dalawang beses pa lang ako nag-practice sa kanila. Marami pa namang games. Kailangan ko bumawi. Nangangapa pa ako sa mga kasama ko,” he added.
The two-time MPBL season and finals MVP entered the game in the 5:21-mark of the first quarter, and immediately made an impact by scoring a short stab off a Schonny Winston assist at 4:51.
“Magiging ready lang ako kasi lagi akong sinasabihan ni coach Charles (Tiu) na limitado lang ako gamitin kasi marami rin namang big man na nandiyan. Sila Bryan (Santos), Justin Arana,” said Baltazar, whose PBA debut was also witnessed at the sidelines by Pampanga governor and Giant Lanterns coach Dennis ‘Delta’ Pineda.
Baltazar said that with more practices, the former La Salle and Gilas Pilipinas player will finally be able to get into his usual groove in the coming games.
The good thing for him is that Converge’s next game will still be on Tuesday when it battles NLEX at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
“Marami pang kulang eh. Saglit ko lang sila nakasama. Kailangan ko pa talaga ng amuyan kami sa loob. Uumpisahan namin sa practice para maging solid kami,” said Baltazar.
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