Jordan Heading and the Converge FiberXers during the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—After wrapping up his first conference with Converge, Jordan Heading knows the value of playing with the league’s rising big men in Justine Baltazar and Justin Arana.
Converge capped off the Commissioner’s Cup with a quarterfinals exit at the hands of Rain or Shine but Heading knows that this was just the beginning for the young team especially with Arana and Baltazar in tow.
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“I think it’s pretty unique in the PBA to be able to have two local big men that are serviceable in terms of holding down their ground respectively and rebound the ball,” said Heading at Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo on Sunday.
“Balti (Baltazar) is able to push the ball off the floor and shoot outside shots while Justin (Arana) is one the best post players in the game along with June Mar (Fajardo), obviously.”
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Baltazar, this year’s first overall pick, ended his conference with 16 points and nine rebounds on a blistering 60 percent shooting clip.
READ: Justine Baltazar drags feet in debut, vows to bounce back strong
Arana, the 2023 PBA Rookie of the Year, had himself a game as well with 15 points and five rebounds.
Heading, however, struggled as Converge was unable to make it to the semis with just three points, five rebounds and four assists.
If there showing in the Commissioner’s Cup is any indication, Heading is excited to see Converge take on all new challenges for the upcoming Philippine Cup.
“Especially for this [upcoming] All-Filipino conference, we’re looking forward to it. They give us the ability to go inside and outside,” he said. “We have dynamic guards as well. They’re fantastic.”
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