Converge big man Justine Baltazar is excitedly awaited by not one, but two Kabalens as he takes on the Magnolia Hotshots in his debut PBA game.

When the league celebrates its 50th founding anniversary on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, the FiberXers and Hotshots square off in one of the league’s special presentations, and the season’s top rookie choice doesn’t anticipate a red-carpet reception from Calvin Abueva and Ian Sangalang.

5 p.m. For the first time, Baltazar will face two of the top big men to emerge from Pampanga, which has produced some of the best basketball players in the nation.

Yes, that was the first time.

The 6-foot-8 De La Salle product was playing for the Pampanga Giant Lanters against the Quezon Huskers in the MPBL Finals when the two teams faced off in the most recent Commissioner’s Cup in Decembe

Alec Stockton’s heroics in the closing minutes helped the FiberXers win the game, 93-91, sealing the team’s comeback from a 20-point deficit.

It will be eleven days before Baltazar will play for Converge against Northport on December 11.

When asked, “Last conference hindi ko sila nakalaban,” recalled the 28-year-old native of Mabalacat, Pampanga.

Of course, Pampanga Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda, who is currently an assistant coach at Converge, is the father of Baltazar, Sangalang (Lubao, Pampanga), and Abueva (Angeles, Pampanga).

Baltazar, the youngest of the three, also holds the two Magnolia veterans in the highest regard.

“Siguro magiging ready lang ako kasi yun ang mga kuya ko na mga Kapampangan. Magiging ready lang ako sa mga kuya ko,” he added.

Baltazar grabbed 16 rebounds and finished with nine points in the FiberXers’ 92-83 victory over Phoenix on Sunday night at Ninoy Aquino Stadium, preparing for the eagerly awaited matchup.

After losing to Meralco 91-89 in their first game, it was Converge’s first conference victory.

Meanwhile, it appears that recent remarks have reopened old wounds, as Marc Pingris put an end to his argument with his estranged buddies at the PBA Motoclub just days ago.

Former PBA player Joseph Yeo, who frequently attends PBA Motoclub, made the assertion in a social media video that former TNT star Ranidel de Ocampo is more deserving of a spot among the PBA’s 50 Greatest Players than Pingris.

Yeo said in a video, “[Kung] ako (ang masusunod) dapat mauna pa si Ranidel kaysa kay Marc Pingris (sa 50 Greatest Players),” Si Marc Pingris, never nag-average ng double digits sa buong buhay nya,” he sustained.

Yeo’s remarks triggered a flurry of fan reactions, particularly after the PBA’s Greatest Players list’s ten new members prompted new discussions among fans over who should and shouldn’t be on the list.

During the PBA’s 40th anniversary in 2015, Pingris was included in the 40 Greatest, however, De Ocampo was left off the list.

The 43-year-old nine-time PBA champion said that he didn’t like the remark, but he maintained that he didn’t take it personally or feel bad about Yeo or any other PBA Motoclub member as a result.

“Kung papanaw n’ya yon, sa kanya na ‘yon,” said the former Magnolia star in a wide-ranging interview “Di lang si Joseph Yeo, or kung sino man. May kanya-kanyang opinion tayo.”

To address the remarks, the former Gilas Pilipinas hero acknowledged contacting PBA Motoclub veterans Rico Maierhofer and Jayjay Helterbrand in addition to Yeo.

Pingris acknowledged that he stayed away from the PBA Motoclub because of a falling out with former teammates years ago.

Pingris stated that inquiries concerning the PBA 50 Greatest Players selections are unavoidable and recommended that the PBA develop selection rules going forward to steer clear of disputes of this kind.