Converge takes Justine Baltazar as No. 1 pick

To no one’s surprise, Converge selected Justine Baltazar as the top overall pick while former NBA G-League player Sedrick Barefield was tapped second by Blackwater during the PBA Season 49 Rookie Draft at Glorietta Makati on Sunday, July 14.

Baltazar, the best big man in this draft, as expected got reunited with his former college coach Aldin Ayo as the FiberXers finally got their hands on a talent they long wanted to pair with Justin Arana at the frontline.

With Baltazar and Arana manning the paint, Converge has finally formed a young core that also features promising guards in Alec Stockton, JL Delos Santos, Deschon Winston and Mike Nieto.

Blackwater, on the other hand, got a potential franchise cornerstone in Barefield, arguably the best talent available in the pool. At 27 years old, the highly touted guard is entering his prime years and can provide the much-needed scoring punch for the Bossing.

Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra used the third overall pick it acquired in a controversial trade with Terrafirma to take former Far Eastern University standout and former Korean Basketball League and Japan B.League import RJ Abarrientos.

In getting the 24-year-old guard, Kings head coach Tim Cone got his hands on another Abarrientos whose uncle and PBA great Johnny played most of his storied career under the multi-titled coach. Johnny incidentally also played for Ginebra during the latter part of his PBA career.

With Abarrientos, the Kings also successfully injected young blood to its lineup – the very same reason why the team dealt both Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle to Terrafirma in exchange of Stephen Holt and Isaac Go a day before the draft.

He also can provide the stabilizing presence at the backcourt alongside Holt, and Maverick Ahanmisi especially with Scottie Thompson still uncertain for the next season due to a back injury.

Phoenix then selected Ateneo standout Kai Ballungay at the fourth pick while NorthPort tapped Dave Ildefonso to complete this year’s Top 5 picks