Justine Baltazar is turning the Ynares Center into his own homecourt after delivering yet another remarkable performance in the Antipolo venue on Sunday night.
The budding Kapampangan star reset his season-high in points as he finished with 21 and 12 rebounds to help lead Converge in keeping TNT winless while they collected their second straight victory in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup.
A quick check by league stats chief Fidel Mangonon III showed that three of the 2024 No. 1 pick’s highest-scoring games in the league were at the old arena.
(C) PBA images
That included his previous season-best — a 20-point showing alongside 10 boards as he helped the FiberXers pull away in the final period to beat Blackwater, 127-109, in the Commissioner’s Cup last January 19.
No less than acting head coach Franco Atienza was left impressed upon learning of what ‘Balti’ has been doing when they play at the Ynares Center.
“Historically ‘yung Ynares, tough rims yan eh, ‘di ba?” recalled the seasoned bench tactician, who’s been in the league for about 12 years already.
“Historically, mga PBA [teams] ayaw dito dahil tough rim eh,” Atienza added while tapping his prized ward out of La Salle on the shoulder as they sat next to each other in the podium during the postgame press conference.
Baltazar, though, believes that it may just be a mere coincidence, although the 28-year-old also shared that he’s grown accustomed to the venue.
After all, he’s played there quite a few times, even before he entered the PBA, particularly with De La Salle University during his UAAP career.
Definitely, his familiarity with the Ynares Center is helping the former Gilas Pilipinas forward a great deal — and Converge, too.
“Mas gamay lang siguro rito sa Ynares,” offered Baltazar.
“Nagkataon lang siguro na kada dito, maganda laro ko.”
#WATCH: Justine Baltazar and interim coach Franco Atienza share how their big win over TNT showed the true heart of the FiberXers 🏀
📹 Justine Bacnis/Tiebreaker Times#PBA2025 pic.twitter.com/TcFAHsNDGc
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) April 27, 2025
