Converge selects Justine Baltazar as top pick in PBA Rookie Draft

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) held its annual Rookie Draft on Sunday, July 14, as the league enters its 49th season.

Justine Baltazar has been drafted by the Converge FiberXers as the top overall pick in the 2024 PBA Rookie Draft at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati.

The 6-foot-7 big man, who was linked to the franchise even before he declared for the league’s annual proceedings, expressed his delight to play for his former college coach and current Converge mentor Aldin Ayo eight years after they steered De La Salle University to the title of UAAP Season 79 in 2016.

“I am very happy because I already worked with Coach Aldin in UAAP. I already know his system so I am excited to work with him again,” Baltazar told ABS-CBN in an interview.

Since playing for Coach Ayo with the Green Archers, the 27-year-old has received a call-up to the national team and made a name for himself in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League with Pampanga Giant Lanterns where he won Season and Finals Most Valuable Player awards. He also had a brief stint with the Hiroshima Dragonflies in the Japan B.League.

These stints made Baltazar one of the most prized prospects in recent years.

Now at Converge, he will bolster a frontcourt that also features reigning Rookie of the Year Justin Arana as well as Jeo Ambohot and Patrick Maagdenberg as the FiberXers look to bounce back from back-to-back last place finishes in the past two conferences.

Among the other notable players in the class are Filipino-American guard Sedrick Barefield, who went to Blackwater at No. 2. RJ Abarrientos was picked third overall by Barangay Ginebra while Kai Ballungay, a versatile forward out of Ateneo, was chosen by Phoenix at No. 4.

Selected fifth by NorthPort was Dave Ildefonso while the youngest in the draft 22-year-old Jonnel Policarpio of La Salle joined NLEX Road Warriors at No. 6.

Former Alab Pilipinas standout Caelan Tiongson and Filipino-Swedish guard Felix Lemetti landed with Rain or Shine at 7th and 8th, respectively.

Meanwhile, former Adamson star Jerom Lastimosa got picked by Magnolia at No. 9 followed by other UAAP standouts Mark Nonoy joining Terrafirma at No. 10 and CJ Cansino favored by Meralco at No. 11.

Avan Nava, a Filipino-Canadian guard, completed the first round as he joined San Miguel as the 12th overall selection.