Justine Baltazar’s PBA debut will be delayed.
The top pick of Sunday’s Season 49 Draft will have to finish his contractual obligations with Pampanga in the MPBL first before going to Converge.
Giant Lanterns boss and incumbent provincial governor Dennis ‘Delta’ Pineda himself – who stands as the 27-year-old’s ‘tatay-tatayan’ as well – confirmed this.
“Right now, priority muna namin ‘yung obligation namin sa mga Kapampangan na tapusin ‘yung season namin ng MPBL,” said the long-time politician.
Pampanga is currently 16-1 in the ongoing 2024 MPBL competitions, making a strong case to defend the championship they won last year.
Their season will conclude by December, although Pineda said Baltazar’s arrival at the FiberXers will depend on how far they will go.
But the long-time politician assured that the reigning MPBL MVP will report to his PBA team right after the Giant Lanterns’ campaign ends.
“We’ll see, kasi ang daming magaling na team ng MPBL ngayon, we never know kung aabot ba kami or what,” he offered.
“After na after, punta na siya rito sa bago niyang buhay,” he added.
Pineda attended the Draft at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati and personally witnessed Baltazar get picked first in the proceedings.
The 50-year-old couldn’t feel more proud to see how far the former Gilas winger has come from his humble beginnings in the province.
“Masaya ako in a way na nagsimula ‘yung bata sa amin na ulila, walang ama, walang nanay, sa resettlement nakatira. Pero right now, no.1 pick,” he said.
“‘Yun yung saya na hindi mabibili ng pera o anuman,” he added.
“Kung anuman yung tulong na nabigay ko sa bata, ‘yan na ‘yung kapalit, na makita ko na umangat yung buhay nung bata.”
