Jerrick Balanza wasted no time making an impression for his new team following a solid debut for Converge against ex-club NorthPort Sunday night.
Acquired just days prior to the PBA Governors’ Cup, the four-year pro finished with 13 points and four rebounds in the FiberXers’ 122-92 dismantling of the Batang Pier for a dominant start to the season-ending conference.
“Nalaman ko sila ‘yung kalaban namin, wala naman akong inisip na iba against sa kanila. Nothing personal,” he told reporters about his performance moments after the match at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
“Naging professional lang po ‘yung attitude ko. Kasi dati pa naman, kung saan ako mapunta, doon talaga ako maglalaro. Ganoon lang naman.”
Balanza was traded by NorthPort to Converge in exchange for Allyn Bulanadi in a one-for-one deal, reuniting him with former coach Aldin Ayo.
The 26-year-old spent his rookie year in Letran under the incumbent FiberXers mentor in 2015, which culminated in an unlikely title run in NCAA Season 91.
But it wasn’t solely their time together in the Knights that led to the reunion in the professional ranks eight years later, the young winger believes.
“Sabi ko nga sa mga nagsasabi sa akin na, ‘Favorite ka ba niyan dati?’ Sabi ko, ‘Hindi, kasi one year lang naman kami nagsama ni Coach Aldin.’ And then that year, rookie ako noon, 18 years old lang ako, hindi rin naman ako nakakalaro.
“Sabi ko siguro kaya gusto niya ako, nakita niya yung laro ko sa PBA — ‘yung mga unang laro ko sa PBA bago siya pumasok, siguro nakita niya na papasok ako sa sistema niya kaya gusto niya ako makuha siguro,” the two-time NCAA champion said.
Balanza does fit their system, according to Ayo himself.
“He is a good addition for us, because he can score,” said the youthful bench tactician.
“At the same time, hindi siya liability sa depensa. He plays defense also, which is ‘yung ang hinahanap namin — ‘yung mga two-way players.”
Although he’s been familiar with the detail-oriented Ayo, Balanza admitted that he is still adjusting to Converge’s schemes.
“Noong una, sobrang hirap sa akin eh,” he said. “Talagang ang hirap ng adjustment ko. Two weeks pa lang ako doon sa kanila, pero buti yung mga teammates and yung mga assistant coaches, mababait sila.
“Hindi ako tumitigil din eh, talagang makulit ako sa practice namin, marami akong tanong. Kasi alam ko si Coach Aldin, sobrang dami at saka detalyado yung sistema niya. Until now, nag-a-adjust pa rin ako.”
The FiberXers are now Balanza’s third PBA team after Ginebra and NorthPort and the one-time champ surely hopes to have found a place to call home.
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The second game of each PBA gameday is live-streamed on SMART Sports.
