THE top rookie pick against the top player in the PBA right now.
Justine Baltazar looks forward to his first ever match up against June Mar Fajardo as San Miguel faces Converge in a crucial Commissioner's Cup encounter over the weekend at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The two-time MPBL MVP and no. 1 overall pick in the last draft said he has never faced the 6-foot-10, eight time MVP of San Miguel on the court ever.
"Hindi pa. First time lang ito," was his curt reply about his head-to-head matchup with the 35-year-old Cebuano big man.
"Maging ready lang. Alam naman natin si June Mar kung gaano ka-dominante sa ilalim."
Sponsored content: The 27-year-old former star player of two-time champion Pampanga Giant Lanterns in the MPBL appeared to have warmed up for his showdown against Fajardo as he dropped a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds in a 127-109 rout of Blackwater in what had been his best game so far for the FiberXers.
The win over the Bossing put Converge in solo second with an 8-3 record, putting the FiberXers in a perfect position to clinch one of two twice-to-beat advantage at stake.
And a victory over Fajardo and the Beermen will give Converge the needed boost to finish at the Top 2.
So how will Balti deal with Fajardo in the all-important game against the embattled defending champion, who is clinging to the eighth and last quarterfinals spot?
"Maging ready lang. Kung ano yung game plan ng mga coaches namin, pagta-trabahuhin namin, pagha-handaan namin," he said. (RG)
