MANILA, Philippines – Compared to his PBA debut, Justine Baltazar ought to be performing far better.

Franco Atienza, the acting head coach of Converge, certainly hopes so, especially because Baltazar and his team will be playing NLEX in the Commissioner’s Cup on Tuesday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

With the Road Warriors hoping to improve their current 3-2 slate and the FiberXers eager to improve their own record to 3-2, both teams are looking to recover from a disappointing loss.

Although NLEX will have more days off between games in its upcoming schedule, Converge, who play Phoenix on Thursday before facing Barangay Ginebra in Batangas City on Saturday, will not have the same luxury.

Atienza stressed how crucial it is to win games in order to advance to the playoffs, especially the quarterfinals, when only the top eight teams advance following the 12-game elimination phase.

He emphasized that securing a postseason berth is currently the team’s top priority, rather than their position in the upcoming phase. Atienza emphasized that paying close attention to their remaining elimination-round games is essential to reaching this objective. To meet the obstacles that lie ahead, the squad needs to approach every game with a defined strategy and a strong sense of resolve.

Atienza described a methodical strategy for achieving their goal, stressing the significance of treating every game separately. He stated that their first objective right now is to focus on the forthcoming game before turning their attention to other games later in the week. Atienza thinks the team can stay focused and increase their chances of success by segmenting the assignment into doable steps.

The team’s dedication to moving forward in the tournament by taking things one step at a time and maintaining their composure is demonstrated by their meticulous approach. Atienza’s leadership and emphasis on the process rather than the result show that he is aware of the difficulties and how crucial it is to keep a disciplined mindset during the elimination phase.

The squad intends to develop the momentum and consistency required to guarantee their playoff spot and successfully compete in the following round by carrying out their plan one game at a time.

With Jordan Heading, who just finished with 30 points in a 101-108 loss to NorthPort, Alec Stockton, Justin Arana, and Cheick Diallo, Converge’s arsenal is as well-stocked.

But it should be Baltazar who gets most of the attention.

Baltazar made his debut with five points, four rebounds, three assists, and one steal in 20 minutes of action after having little sleep after his successful MPBL campaign and only two days of practice with the team that selected him as the first overall pick in last July’s draft.

Even though Baltazar has only been with Converge for a week, Atienza is aware that this is insufficient to fully integrate the multi-titled 6-9 forward-center and foster camaraderie with his new squad.

Atienza said they were confident in their new player’s growth and that from his first game with the team, there had already been encouraging changes. Both the players and the coaching staff are working hard to make sure the player fits in well with the club’s system and that the team fits his style of play. According to Atienza, the integration process has been encouraging and easy thus far.

He emphasized the young athlete’s great character and his capacity to manage the demands of his position. Atienza claims that the player’s self-awareness, which includes his knowledge of his skills and places for development, demonstrates his professionalism. Because of this maturity, the coach has faith that the player will quickly contribute significantly to the team.

Atienza also acknowledged the player’s adaptability and resilience, which are qualities necessary for succeeding under duress. Atienza thinks the newcomer will play a key role in assisting the team in reaching their objectives with time and sustained effort on both sides. The coach’s optimism is a reflection of his belief in the player’s ability and the team’s dedication to cooperating to improve performance.