Justine Baltazar debuted with a huge double-double to lift the Converge Pampanga Delta to an 86-76 win over the Nueva Ecija Besprens last Saturday in the National Basketball League (NBL) Season 3 Black Arrow Express-President’s Cup at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex.
The La Salle standout, who hails from Mabalacat, Pampanga, had 26 points and 23 rebounds in his first game with the Delta.
Converge Pampanga now on a 3-1 record in Group B of the homegrown league’s first conference.
Encho Serrano had 17 points, while CJ Gania added 15 for the Delta, who overcame the 18-point effort of Nueva Ecija’s Isaiah Cabiga.
In the second game, the Muntinlupa Emeralds captured their first win after three tries in Group A with an 84-79 victory over the Pasig El Pirata.
Arnold Danga had 19 points and six rebounds, while Danny Diocampo finished with 12 points and seven rebounds. The two also hit clutch shots to keep their lead in the match. John Cedrick Abis added 12 points and 14 rebounds for Muntinlupa.
Vitorio Vergara scored 16 points, but Pasig suffered its third loss in four games.
