THE PBA holds its mid-season conference, but a number of rookie players are all set to make their respective debuts including the no. 1 overall pick in the last draft.
Former top special Gilas draft pick Jordan Heading finally get to take his act to the league as he sees action for Converge FiberXers, who acquired his rights from Terrafirma by trading away Aljun Melecio, Keith Zaldivar, and a Season 51 first round pick.
Heading, the 28-year-old Fil-Australian gunner, was the Dyip's top choice in the 2020 special draft among Gilas players.
He is actually one of three rookies making their initial foray with the Converge franchise.
Big man Pao Javillonar is also plunging in Asia's oldest play-for-pay league for the first time after finishing his collegiate career with Letran recently. He was a second round pick of the FiberXers at no. 19 overall.
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Highly-touted Justine Baltazar, the no. 1 overall selection, is set to don Converge's purple and white jersey this second conference, but will miss the team's first few games as he tries to wrap up his commitment with the Pampanga Giant Lanterns in the MPBL finals.
The 27-year-old native of Mabalacat has yet to be included as part of the FiberXers' official lineup for the tournament.
A pair of first round selections are also slated to see action for the first time in Jerom Lastimosa and Mark Nonoy.
Tabbed at no. 9 by Magnolia, the 26-year-old Lastimosa from Adamson University, missed out the season opener Governors' Cup as he recuperates from the ACL surgery that sidelined him for almost a year.
Nonoy, picked after Lastimosa at no. 10, on the other hand, waited for his contract with Iloilo United Royals in the MPBL to lapse before signing with Terrafirma.
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The Dyip acquired the rights on the former De La Salle and University of Santo Tomas guard as part of the blockbuster trade between Barangay Ginebra and Terrafirma and involved Stephen Holt, Isaac Go, and the no. 10 overall selection for Christian Standhardinger, Stanley Pringle and the no. 3 top pick which turned out to be RJ Abarrientos.
Terrafirma will also unveil another rookie in CJ Catapusan - drafted no. 15 overall - side by side with Nonoy. The two were also teammates with the United Royals.
Another freshman lined up for the first time this conference is Miguel Corteza for Blackwater. He was initially picked no. 20 (second round) by Rain or Shine, but was traded to the Bossing for a future second round pick.
Other rookie signings but have yet to land an official spot in their team's respective lineups include Agem Miranda (Northport) and Mike Malonzo (Rain or Shine).
Malonzo was the no. 16 pick by the Elasto Painters, while Miranda was no. 29th by the Batang Pier. (RG)
