With Baltazar becoming more comfortable, as evidenced by his numbers, the FiberXers are ahead in the race for the coveted twice-to-beat bonus in the first round of the playoffs.

Justine Baltazar’s performance that propelled Converge to close to a two-loss lead in the quarterfinals of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup seems a clear indication that she is past the adjustment stage in the Major Leagues.

“Now I’m 100 percent comfortable with my team,” Baltazar said in Filipino on Sunday after scoring a career-high 20 points to go along with 10 rebounds, three steals and two blocks in the FiberXers’ 127-game victory. 109 on Blackwater Bossing. at the Ynares Center here in Antipolo City.

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Now Baltazar, chosen as the regular first pick in the last Draft but who joined the team late due to commitments in another league, is ready for his biggest test yet when he faces one of his idols, Mar Fajardo, in June, while Converge seeks to end eliminations. on high before Cerveza San Miguel.

Winning that match will secure the much-needed quarter-final bonus.

Converge improved to 8-3 to move up to second place in the table, but injury concerns to their other young big, Justin Arana, were immediately downplayed by the player himself and coach Franco Atienza.

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Arana left late in the third period while being helped by assistant coaches Danny Ildefonso and Willie Miller for what the third-year prop said was hyperextending his left knee after attempting a layup.

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uncertain spider

His status for Friday’s showdown against the Beermen in this city will be known in the coming days, and that could mean the need for Baltazar to redouble his efforts against the Beermen, who are struggling in the standings at 4-5 after a 100. -93 loss to the Meralco Bolts in Candon, Ilocos Sur last Saturday.

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But Converge is happy to see Baltazar make steady progress since his long-awaited PBA debut a month ago, which he hopes to continue against Fajardo.

“We all know how dominant he is deep down,” Baltazar said. “But we will make sure we are prepared and ready.”

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Fellow rookie Jordan Heading added 22 points with three rebounds and five assists, import Cheick Diallo scored 20 points and 18 rebounds and Alec Stockton scored 19 points and seven assists to put the FiberXers ahead of other two-time winners, the Bolts, NorthPort. Batang Pier and the guest team Hong Kong Japanese, all with 7-3 cards.

Leading the race

TNT is still above the standings at 6-2 due to a higher winning percentage than the aforementioned teams.

Blackwater fell to 2-8, almost certain to miss the quarterfinals unless it wins its final two games and sees the likes of San Miguel, Magnolia, NLEX and Phoenix suffer stunning blunders.

NLEX, which had lost five games in a row, and Phoenix were facing each other at press time, and both entered the essential bout tied 3-6.

Import George King finished with 34 points, four quadruples, 13 rebounds and six assists for Bossing. INQ