MANILA, Philippines – Before selecting their favorite candidate, FibrXers want to see the whole pool of draftees. According to Converge team officials, Justine Baltazar’s position as the first overall choice in the upcoming PBA Draft isn’t really set in stone just yet.

The FibrXers have not yet officially committed to choosing the reigning MPBL MVP as their first pick, despite Baltazar’s camp’s confirmation that he will be participating in the PBA Draft.

To be clear, doing due diligence is more important than remaining hesitant about Baltazar and what he may provide.

Jacob Lao, the manager of the Converge team, expressed his joy and enthusiasm for Baltazar after learning of his plan to enter the PBA Draft, which is scheduled for July 14. Having known Baltazar for a long, Lao has faith in his potential to succeed in the PBA. Lao stressed that this progress does not, however, mean anything for the squad because he and the coaches still have a lot of work ahead of them, especially because they have not yet seen the players selected for this year’s draft.

Jacob Lao, the manager of the Converge team, expressed his joy and enthusiasm for Baltazar after learning of his plan to enter the PBA Draft, which is scheduled for July 14. Having known Baltazar for a long, Lao has faith in his potential to succeed in the PBA. Lao stressed that this progress does not, however, mean anything for the squad because he and the coaches still have a lot of work ahead of them, especially because they have not yet seen the players selected for this year’s draft.

Head coach of Converge Aldin Ayo concurred, pointing out that personnel and team management still need to meet in order to choose players. Baltazar is without a doubt one of their primary goals, Ayo conceded. “We’ve always had Baltazar on our list, and I’m sure the other teams are as well. We’ll talk to management about it and see what happens,” said Ayo.

The FiberXers’ 3-19 win-loss record in the 2023–24 season earned them the first selection in the PBA Season 49 draft. They are in a great position to add elite talent to their squad thanks to this chance. It is expected that Baltazar would be the key draw in the draft. He led the Pampanga Giant Lanterns to the MPBL title in the 2023 season.

Should Baltazar be chosen by Converge, he will have the opportunity to work with his former La Salle coach, Ayo. This reconnection is anticipated to be advantageous since Baltazar’s integration into the FiberXers’ system may be smooth thanks to their prior collaboration. Additionally, Dennis Pineda, the governor of Pampanga and a trusted advisor of Baltazar, is a team official on Converge. Baltazar’s existing support network inside the team may also help him adjust to his new work setting.

Lao said that the FiberXers are happy to have the top pick in the next draft and the opportunity to bolster their team for the time being. They might choose a player who can have an instant impact and help them recover from the previous season thanks to this tactical advantage. The buzz and expectations around Baltazar’s possible selection highlight the enthusiasm leading up to the draft.

Conclusively, the Converge team is extremely excited and buzzed about Baltazar’s choice to enter the draft; nonetheless, the squad is still concentrating on careful planning and preparation. The FiberXers have a chance to resurrect their squad and create a competitive club for the future in the next draft.

Although there are many excellent and skilled players entering this draft, upper management and coaches have not yet decided who they want to select at No. 1. “We’re just happy we get to pick first and select someone who can help our team be better in the succeeding seasons to come,” he added.