Baltazar may make debut for FiberXers in clash with red-hot Batang Pier
RANGED against a streaking NorthPort side, acting head coach Franco Atienza knows it would take some doing before his Converge side can emerge victorious in their Thursday match in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
"Maganda itinatakbo ng NorthPort so tough test for us," said Atienza on the eve of the encounter which sees his FiberXers gunning for a second straight win that would jack their record to 3-1 while foiling the Batang Pier's bid to improve to 5-0.
"For sure, mabigat na laban ito," added Atienza.
Justine Baltazar, the top pick overall in last July's Rookie Draft, should help. But Atienza said they still have to decide on whether to field the 6-9 forward-center, whose successful stint with the Pampanga Giant Lanterns ended only last Saturday.
"Might, pero hindi pa sure. We're still evaluating," offered Atienza. "We will still check kung talagang kakayanin niya, kasi mahaba naging season niya which ended only last Saturday, eh. So wala pang pahinga ito."
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Atienza knows that if Baltazar plays, he would be a big help, based on what the player displayed in his first practice session with Converge last Monday.
"Impressive 'yung nakita namin, as expected. I mean, what would you expect from someone who is a UAAP champion, back-to-back MPBL champion, back-to-back MPBL MVP, among other accolades?" said Atienza.
"Talagang kung ano ine-expect mo sa ganoong kalibre, ganoon ipinakita niya kahapon."
Converge surely needs every weapon it could lay its hands on against a NorthPort side that is coming off a 107-103 shocker over Magnolia last week and the major factors going for the Batang Pier are not lost on Atienza.
"Medyo familiar sa isa't-isa. The coaching staff is doing a great job, maganda lineup nila. They are probably the longest, the most agile, and adaptable kasi halos pare-pareho height nila," noted Atienza.
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"Tapos 'yung import nila, si Kadeem Jack, medyo mahirap matchup-an kasi 6-9, long, 230 lbs, can shoot it from the outside. Pero ang pinakadinadala niya, 'yung presence niya sa loob. Medyo active at squeezer. Bihirang combination 'yung presence niya sa loob tapos nakaka-shoot pa siya sa three points.
"Their support cast maganda rin itinatakbo so napakaganda ng performance nila in terms of record backed up by statistics. They are a team to be reckoned with talaga."
Atienza also knows how his team must perform to follow up its own come-from-behind 93-91 stunner over Magnolia last Dec. 1. "We'll just continue to do what we do," he said.
"Basically, we bank heavily on our defense. We will try to defend as a team and, at the same time, on the other end of the floor ganoon din, attack and execute, find our guys sa mga comfort spots, nila, play for each other, run our system." (NC)
