LAST season’s top rookie pick Justine Baltazar can’t help but be grateful for the opportunity of playing for Gilas Pilipinas in window 3 of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.
And while the 6-foot-8 Baltazar played just one game in the national squad’s two road games, the experience he had playing under national coach Tim Cone and being with the present and future stars of the Philippine team is a big blessing in itself.
“With the many players in the pro who wanted to play for Gilas, I got included,” Baltazar said in Filipino.
“I’m just very thankful and blessed with the big opportunity I had to be included in Gilas.”
The former Gilas Pilipinas juniors player did not play against New Zealand, in a game that saw Baltazar’s Converge teammate Juan Gomez de Liano explode for 23 points and hit many clutch threes against the Tall Blacks.
The Philippines eventually lost, 106-103, in double overtime in Auckland.
Baltazar would then get a chance to show his wares against Australia on July 6.
He missed his two field goal attempts, but managed to contribute one block in his brief five-minute exposure.
The Philippines was bludgeoned by Australia, 92-49, in Perth.
Nonetheless, Baltazar considered his stint with the national team priceless, and he knows very well that the experience and knowledge he gained will serve him in helping Converge win the championship in the ongoing PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup.
“We just need to help each other because the team expects us to contribute,” he added.
Converge won its first two games against Titan Ultra and Terrafirma in the conference and is playing Macau at press time on Friday. RICHARD DY
A COMPLETE San Miguel Beer team battles Terrafirma while Meralco and Rain or Shine collide in a pair of double-header in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup on Saturday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
The Beermen opened the conference with a 123-109 win against the visiting Macau Giant Pandas.
The Dyip, meanwhile, are out to end their two-game losing streak when they clash with the Beermen at 5:15 p.m.
San Miguel will also welcome back star center June Mar Fajardo, who will return after skipping the match against Macau due to a hyperextended elbow he sustained when the Philippine team played against Australia in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.
An interesting subplot for Saturday’s encounter is Jerrick Ahanmisi facing off with his former team Terrafirma.
The former Adamson hotshot led the Dyip in scoring during the first two conferences this season before being traded to the Beermen during the conference break.
“It’s going to be fun. I’m excited to play against my former team. And I’m just going to go there and do my best,” said the reigning PBA three-point shootout champion and first round pick of Magnolia in the Season 46 draft.
Terrafirma is a dangerous bunch under coach Ronald Tubid as evidenced by the team’s two “near wins” against NLEX and Converge, where the Dyip lost by a pair of narrow margins after mounting a comeback.
Meralco, Meanwhile, will unveil import Antonio Hester, who returns to the league to replace injured Jordon Varnado when the Bolts go up against Rain or Shine at 7:30 p.m.
The Bolts bowed to the Phoenix Fuel Masters, 97-98, a few days back after playing without the injured Varnado.
The Elasto Painters, on the other hand, suffered a 131-108 manhandling from the Blackwater Bossing last week.
“I’m disappointed. Not only because we lost, it’s the way we lost. The lead was too big. We could only wish that it was a close game so that you could give yourself a chance to win. That would have been okay, but we had no chance of winning the game until the end,” said Guiao.
Rain or Shine is entering the game just a day after dealing team skipper Gian Mamuyac and its Season 53 second round pick to Phoenix in exchange for the Fuel Masters’ Season 53 first round pick.
Mamuyac, who won the PBA sportsmanship award in 2025, saw his four-year stint with the Rain or Shine franchise come to an end with the transaction.
