MANILA, Philippines — Former La Salle big man Justine Baltazar looms as the no. 1 overall pick and could easily land at the lap of the rebuilding Converge side as the 2024 PBA Annual Rookie Draft is set on Sunday at the Ayala Malls Glorietta Activity Center in Makati.
The 6-foot-6 and 7/5 inches Baltazar will be leading the 70-man strong rookie hopefuls in the annual draft proceedings scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
Baltazar, who spent this past season polishing his skills in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League where he led the Pampanga Giant Lanterns to the championship, along with being named the Most Valuable Player, is seen as a vital piece for the FiberXers.
For one, Converge had a woeful Season 48 where the franchise won just a total of three wins as opposed to 19 losses.
The abysmal season also saw the charges of coach Aldin Ayo lose 12 straight dating back to December 2023, before ending the ordeal with a 104-99 against Meralco on April 21 during the Philippine Cup elimination round.
Baltazar is seen as a solid front court pair for Season 47 Rookie of the Year Justin Arana, considered as the franchise's cornerstone, along with high-scoring guard Alec Stockton and Aljun Melecio.
Blackwater will take its turn at the no. 2 pick with the Bossing eyeing a guard who could possibly be a tossup between Filipino-American Sedrick Barefield and La Salle's Evan Nelle or former Gilas guard RJ Abarrientos.
Ginebra then, picks at no. 3, part of the deal it had with Terrafirma on Saturday.
That deal meant Ginebra sending veterans Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle to Terrafirma in exchange for Stephen Holt and Isaac Go. The Dyip then, acquire the Gin Kings; no. 10 pick.
Phoenix will pick fourth, with coach Jamike Jarin possibly considering at shorting up its backcourt or possibly a wingman.
NorthPort then takes its turn at no. 5, followed by NLEX (sixth), Rain or Shine selects consecutively at seventh and eighth, while Magnolia (ninth), Terrafirma (from Barangay Ginebra at no. 10), Meralco (no. 11) and San Miguel Beer (no. 12).
Other potential first rounders include CJ Cansino, Caelan Tiongson, Peter Alfaro, Mark Nonoy, Kai Ballungay, Dave Ildefonso, Jonnel Policarpio, Jerom Lastimosa, and Ben Philips.