Tim Cone is a Justine Baltazar believer. And the PBA’s winningest coach is hoping the Converge FiberXers’ big man can play to his potential in the third window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
Baltazar, of course, is no stranger to national team duties in FIBA. He made his Gilas debut in 2021, playing in both the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, Serbia, and in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers. Both times, he acquitted himself quite well, putting up 7.4 points and 6.9 rebounds in seven combined games.
Baltazar Call-Up Not a Surprise
So, when Cone included Baltazar in the national pool for the second window, it wasn’t much of a surprise. Now, without Kai Sotto and Quentin Millora-Brown, the artist known as Balti will get a chance to play again, making it to the Gilas Pilipinas 12 for the third window. And it looks like Cone is expecting big things from the big man.
“Balti, Justine, we know him from the last window. We had him through the whole camp and he impressed us then,” Cone told reporters prior to Gilas Pilipinas’ open practice on Monday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. “When we lost a couple of our bigs in Q and Kai, we looked around and tried to find someone who’d be a versatile big that we could throw at different positions. He’s a player with a high ceiling, and we’re hoping that he can play at that high ceiling.”
A 6-foot-9 beanpole, Baltazar brings solid rebounding, defensive instincts, and mobility up front. He can also shoot from distance, which has become a critical skill for big men in the modern game. From the looks of it, Cone is banking on Balti bringing these very things to Gilas Pilipinas.
Balti Is Ready
Cone appears to have outsized expectations from Baltazar, but the Pampanga native isn’t shying away from it. In fact, he says he is ready.
“Always ready lang ako,” Baltazar said in the same presser. “So, ngayon malaking pasasalamat ako nasama ako sa final 12 ngayon… Kasi last game nila, baguhan pa lang ako. Andun pa lang ako sumusuporta.”
That was then. In the here and now, the 29-year-old FiberXer isn’t a cheerleader anymore. He is part of the big dance, and his coach is hoping he can play a big role in it.
