AN uncertainty in a certainty.
Six-foot-nine Justine Baltazar is projected to become the top pick overall in the annual PBA Draft on Sunday, July 14, but Converge, the team that will likely choose him, has a problem.
Baltazar said he is weighing his options — whether to promptly play in the pro league’s 49th season set to start next month or finish his stint with the Pampanga Giant Lanterns in the MPBL.
Baltazar, 27, initially applied for the Draft in 2022 but pulled out at the last minute and instead signed with the Hiroshima Dragonflies in the Japan B.League.
“Tignan natin sa Draft sa July 14. Prini-prepare ko rin iyong sarili ko na kumbaga titingnan ko kung tatapusin ko iyong MPBL o maglalaro na ako sa PBA after nitong Draft,” Baltazar said yesterday during the first day of the Draft Combine at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig. “Iyon nga iyong sinabi ko, last year kasi hindi pa ako healthy. Hindi ako masyadong nakapaglaro sa overseas.
“Kumuha ako ng kompiyansa sa MPBL hanggang sa ito parang bumalik na iyong laro ko.
So, ngayon talaga balak ko talaga magpa-draft na. Ready na talaga ako,” he added.
A former La Salle standout in the UAAP and a member of the Gilas Pilipinas national team training pool in the past, Baltazar said the time he spent overseas and in the regional league will serve him in good stead.
“Malaking tulong sa akin kasi iyong mga nakakalaban ko sa ibang bansa, grabe din, mga ex-NBA players so parang madadala ko iyong dito sa PBA,” the pride of Mabalacat City, Pampanga, said.
“Sobrang laking tulong kasi sa MPBL doon ko kinukuha iyong kumpiyansa ko. Kumbaga, pagdating ko sa PBA parang hindi na ako masyadong mangangapa or mahirapan.”
Baltazar averaged 12.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.0 steal, and 1.0 block for the Green Archers in his swan song where he was named to the Mythical Team two years ago. — With Abby Toralba
