Baltazar nets PBA milestone as Converge clobbers Blackwater for 8th win

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Top pick Justine Baltazar register his first PBA double-double as Converge clinches its sixth victory in the last seven games to climb to solo second in the Commissioner's Cup

MANILA, Philippines – After a relatively slow start to his PBA career, Justine Baltazar is proving why Converge made him the top draft pick.

The rookie big man registered his first double-double as Converge gained solo second in the Commissioner’s Cup following a 127-109 win over Blackwater at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City on Sunday, January 19.

Baltazar tallied 20 points and 10 rebounds with 3 steals and 2 blocks in the FiberXers’ sixth victory in the last seven games that raised their record to 8-3.

Jordan Heading paced Converge with 22 points and 5 assists, firing 12 points in the final frame as the FiberXers coasted to the finish line to match their biggest win tally in an elimination round with one more game to play.

Converge also won eight elimination-round games in the Commissioner’s Cup of the 2022-23 season.

Import Cheick Diallo supplied 20 points and 18 rebounds in the win, Alec Stockton put up 19 points and 7 assists, while Schonny Winston and JL delos Santos added 10 points each.

The FiberXers blew the Bossing out despite the exit of young star Justin Arana, who went down with an injury late in the third quarter after getting hurt during a fast break attempt.

George King produced 34 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists for Blackwater — his all-around effort once again going down the drain as the Bossing fell to 2-8 and saw their playoff chances dealt a bigger dent.

Jaydee Tungcab had 20 points and 5 steals in the losing effort.

The Scores

Converge 127 – Heading 22, Baltazar 20, Diallo 20, Stockton 19, Delos Santos 10, Winston 10, Santos 8, Nieto 8, Arana 7, Racal 3, Caralipio 0, Andrade 0.

Blackwater 109 – King 34, Tungcab 20, Chua 16, David 14, Kwekuteye 10, Casio 6, Corteza 4, Ponferrada 3, Guinto 2, Montalbo 0, Ayonayon 0, Jopia 0.

Quarters: 33-26, 70-56, 97-88, 127-109.

– Rappler.com