PBA Draft: Baltazar, Barefield and a few first round surprises

July 14, 2024 admin

MANILA, Philippines—Converge predictably chose Justine Baltazar as the first overall pick of the 2024 PBA Draft at Glorietta Activity Center in Makati on Sunday.

Baltazar has been the consensus top pick since announcing his intent to join the draft a few months ago.

Now, he will be taking his talents to the FiberXers, reuniting with coach Aldin Ayo. Baltazar and Ayo won a UAAP championship together at La Salle in 2016.

READ: Justine Baltazar picked first overall by Converge in PBA Draft

“I’m really excited,” said an ecstatic Baltazar in Filipino after being picked first overall.

“Last year, it’s like they were lacking in big men, Arana had only a little help so now it’s looking like we’ll have a good run this season.”

Prior to his selection in the PBA, Baltazar already had his fair share of winning a semi-professional title with the Pampanga Lanterns in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.

The La Salle product was also hailed as this year’s MVP of the MPBL with averages of 17.4 points, 16. 9 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.2 blocks per game.

READ: PBA Draft: Sedrick Barefield goes to Blackwater at No. 2

Much like the Baltazar pick, there was no surprise when Blackwater selected Sedrick Barefield at No. 2.

Barefield already showed glimpses of his talents when he played with the Bay Area Dragons, a team that wreaked havoc in the 2022-23 Commissioner’s Cup and took Ginebra to seven games in the finals.

However, while the Baltazar and the Barefield picks were expected, Ginebra, which only acquired the third pick 24 hours ago after a trade with Terrafirma, made a surprise move by selecting RJ Abarrientos.

Abarrientos is currently in Taiwan playing for Strong Group Athletics in the William Jones Cup.

In drafting Abarrientos, the Gin Kings traded away veterans Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle along with the tenth pick to Terrafirma, which also sent crack guard Stephen Holt to Ginebra coupled with the rights to the third selection.

READ: PBA Draft: Ginebra makes surprise move with RJ Abarrientos at No. 3

A couple of Ateneo products came next as Kai Ballungay went fourth to Phoenix while Dave Ildefonso rounded out the top five after being drafted by Northport.

Another surprising pick was young gun Jonnel Policarpio, who was chosen by NLEX at No. 6 after being named MVP of the PBA Draft Combine. Caelan Tiongson was then selected by Rain or Shine with the seventh pick.

Coach Yeng Guiao showed even more tricks up his sleeve as he chose Felix Lemetti as the eighth pick for the Elasto Painters.

Jerom Lastimosa was chosen ninth overall by Magnolia while fellow UAAP guard Mark Nonoy was selected by Dyip with the tenth pick.

University of the Philippines standout CJ Cansino was chosen by reigning Philippine Cup Champion Meralco with the eleventh pick while Avan Nava rounded out the first round, heading to San Miguel.