Justin Baltazar (No. 19) finished with a career-high 20 points, to go with 10 rebounds for the Fiberaxers. -PBA Images
Justin Baltazar’s performance as he came close to defeating the Converges twice in the quarterfinals of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup seems to be a clear indication of him moving past the adjustment phase in the big league.
“I’m 100 percent comfortable with my team now,” 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 Fiberax’s 127-109 loss at the Blackwater Bowl. ” At the Ynares Center here in Antipolo City.
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Now Baltazar, who was selected as the first overall pick in the last draft, but who joined the team late due to commitments in another league, faces his biggest test yet by facing one of his idols, Mar Fajardo, in June. Ready because Converge wants to end eliminations. On a high against San Miguel Beer.
Winning that match would secure the much-needed quarter bonus.
Converge improved to 8–3, moving up to second in the table, but concerns over an injury to their other young player in Justin Arana were quickly allayed by player and coach Franco Atienza.
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Arana left late in the third period while assistant coaches Danny Ildefonso and Willie Miller helped him, as the third-year mainstay said his left knee was hyperextended after going for a layup.
Arana uncertain
Their status for Friday’s matchup with the Beermen in this city will be known in the coming days, and that could mean Baltazar will need to redouble his efforts against the Beermen, who sit at 4-5 after 100. Struggling in the standings after a -93 loss to Meralco Bolts in Candon, Ilocos Sur last Saturday.
But Converge is happy to see Baltazar making 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 down there,” Baltazar said. “But we will make sure we are prepared and ready.”
Fellow rookie Jordan Heading added 22 points with three rebounds and five assists, import Czech Diallo had 20 points and 18 rebounds and Alec Stockton posted 19 points and seven assists to lead the Bolts, who beat the Fiberaxers the other two times, over Northport. kept. Batang Pier and visiting team Hong Kong Eastern, who have 7-3 cards.
race leader
TNT is still on top of the leaderboard at 6-2 due to having a higher win percentage than the mentioned teams.
Blackwater went 2-8, but were almost certain to miss the quarterfinals unless they won their last two games and suffered surprising losses to the likes of San Miguel, Magnolia, NLEX, and Phoenix. Will not be able to reach.
NLEX, which had lost five in a row, and Phoenix were head-to-head at press time, with both entering the crucial match tied at 3-6.
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Import George King scored 34 points with four quadruples, 13 rebounds and six assists for the Bossing. inquiry
