July 15 ------ Baltazar was picked by Converge as the top overall selection at the Glorietta 4 Activity Center in Makati City. It had long been presumed that the 6-foot-9 big man from Pampanga would join the FiberXers due to his ties with the team. Baltazar, 27, is a decorated player. He is the reigning MPBL Most Valuable Player and a three-time UAAP Mythical Team member.
Converge is hoping to rise this season after accumulating just three wins last year. “Sobrang excited ako sa bagong team na Converge. Gagawin ko lang yung role ko sa team,” he said. “Sobrang excited din ako maging kakampi si Justin (Arana). Mukhang magiging magandang tandem kaming dalawa.” he added.
The only caveat is that Baltazar will only join Converge in December after Pampanga finishes its campaign in the 2024 MPBL season. Meanwhile, Blackwater secured its franchise guard in Sedrick Barefield. The Elite, who traded away Rey Nambatac to the TNT Tropang Giga a couple of weeks ago, selected the former OKC Blue player as the second pick. The 27-year-old guard from Corona, California, has an impressive resume, having played all over the world before finally settling in the PBA.
For the third pick, Ginebra, which received the third overall pick from Terrafirma after a blockbuster trade on Saturday, selected RJ Abarrientos. It was a moment reminiscent of the 1993 draft at Peninsula Manila, also in Makati, when Tim Cone and Alaska selected Johnny Abarrientos as the third overall pick. Since RJ was still with Strong Group for the 43rd William Jones Cup, it was Johnny who stood in and got the Ginebra jersey.
The next three picks were UAAP upstarts with Ateneo’s Kai Ballungay and Dave Ildefonso going to Phoenix and Northport, respectively, while Jonnel Policarpio of La Salle was selected by NLEX. Rain or Shine, one of the winners of last season’s deep draft, shored up its frontline with the selection of Caelan Tiongson, who will beef up the Elasto Painters’ frontline with Keith Datu and Luis Villegas. In another surprise, Fil-Swede Felix Lemetti was also selected by Rain or Shine.
Good pals Mark Nonoy and CJ Cansino went back-to-back at 10 and 11, going to Terrafirma and Meralco, respectively. Former Seoul Samsung Asian import Avan Nava completed the first round after getting selected by San Miguel. La Salle teammates Ef Escandor and Evan Nelle opened the second round with Rain or Shine and Northport selecting them. Rain or Shine’s haul concluded with Mike Malonzo of NU. Converge, on the other hand, got the likes of Paolo Javillonar, Ben Phillips, and Jason Credo.
Source: tiebreakertimes.com.ph
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