By REYNALD MAGALLON
After skipping two PBA Rookie Drafts where he was already deemed eligible, Justine Baltazar said he finally feels ripe to make the big jump to the pro league.
The versatile 6-foot-7 forward said he felt more confident this time as compared to two years ago, when he first threw his name to the draft but ended up withdrawing it, noting that he is now armed with more experience after playing in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.
“Kumuha ako ng kumpiyansa sa MPBL hanggang sa ito, na parang bumabalik na rin ‘yung laro ko.So Nakita ko talaga na balak ko talaga magpa-draft na talaga, ready na talaga ako sa PBA,” said Baltazar during the first day of the Season 49 Draft Combine at the Ynares Sports Arena.
“Last year kasi hindi pa talaga, hindi pa ako healthy last year eh. Hindi ako masyadong nakapaglaro sa overseas,” he added, pertaining to his uneventful stint with the Hiroshima Dragonflies in the Japan B.League.
Baltazar did show what he can do on the floor with enough minutes after towing the Pampanga Giant Lanterns to an MPBL championship last year.
He continued to be a pillar for his team which currently sits at the No. 2 spot of the overall standings, averaging a double-double of 14.5 points, 14.5 rebounds apart from his 6.1 assists.
The same MPBL campaign, however, could stand in the way for him to immediately join whichever team would pick him as he was still in contract with the Dennis “Delta” Pineda-owned team and might need to finish the season before he could formally make his PBA debut.
“Hinihintay ko ‘yung desisyon ni Gov. (Pineda) kasi ang sinasabi niya sa akin talaga, parang tatapusin ko ‘yung MPBL kasi may kontrata ako,” said Baltazar.
If that would be the case, his situation with Pampanga should become one of the considerations for any team who would want to get his services. Baltazar, for one, has been long projected as the No. 1 pick of this year’s draft – a pick that Converge currently holds.
For his part though, Baltazar is leaving the decision to the hands of the officials and vowed to be just ready in any eventuality.
“Pini-prepare ko rin sarili ko na, tignan ko kung tatapusin ko ‘yung MPBL o maglalaro na ko sa itong draft na ‘to sa PBA,” he added.
