TOO tall, too good.
That’s how Converge coach Aldin Ayo described 6-foot-9 center Justine Baltazar whom the FiberXers picked No. 1 overall in last Sunday’s PBA 49th season annual Draft at the Ayala Malls Glorietta 4 activity center in Makati.
It does not also hurt that Ayo coached Baltazar in his early years with La Salle in the UAAP where they won a title in 2016.
“Na-coach ko siya sa early part ng collegiate career niya. Nandoon na iyong mga skill sets na itinuro ng coaching staff, not necessarily me kasi during that time nandoon sila coach Glenn (Capacio), coach Louie (Gonzalez). Pero iyong mga skill sets na iyon naituro namin sa kanya,” Ayo said. “Big man, skilled, nandito lahat.
“Aside from the talent and the skills that he has, I know him, we know him personally. We know that he’s a winner. We know that he’s going to do whatever it takes to help our team win,” he added.
But their long-awaited reunion of sorts will have to wait.
Ayo said Baltazar will likely finish his stint until December with the Pampanga Giant Lanterns in the MPBL.
The pro league’s Governors’ Cup is slated to kick off next month.
“They (Giant Lanterns) have to win first. Kami naman, we have to be patient. Whatever it is, kung anong desisyon ni Gov. Delta (Pineda, who owns the MPBL team), susundin natin,” Ayo said.
“But we’re excited na nandito na sa amin si Balti. Kung kailan darating, kung kailan maglalaro, hintay lang.”
Baltazar, 27, is aching to help his new team reach great heights.
“Sobrang sarap sa feeling kasi nga sabi ni coach na naging coach ko sa 2016 at 2017 na parang kaunti lang ang nagawa ko,” he said. “So, parang ito na iyong time na kailangan kong bumawi kay coach para makatulong ako sa Converge ngayon.”
For Ayo, Baltazar should be what the doctor ordered for a young Converge franchise that underwhelmed in the last cage wars.
“Si Balti (Baltazar’s nickname) makakapaglaro ng four. Kapag may dumating pa na big man, or kapag may import, I might slide him to the three-spot,” Ayo said. “Ganoon ka-versatile. Do it all.”
Is Baltazar worth the wait for the FiberXers?
