Justine Baltazar is now with the Gilas Pilipinas pool for the second window of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.
Slowly but surely, Justine Baltazar is soaking in all the lessons from every practice with Gilas Pilipinas.
Baltazar is the latest addition to the national team pool from which coach Tim Cone is forming his lineup for the second window of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.
The Philippines will host New Zealand and Australia this week for this window.
Asked how he’s adjusting to the intricacies of the triangle system, the Converge big man he’s not quite there yet.
“First time ko maging coach si coach Tim. Nakakasunod naman ako,” Baltazar told One Sports after practice at the Mall of Asia Arena on Monday, Feb. 23.
“Short lang mga training namin so parang kulang pa… Nasa 80 to 90 percent na (yung nakukuha ko).”
If he ever makes the final lineup for the home games against the New Zealand and Australia, Baltazar is confident he can make an impact for Gilas Pilipinas.
“No. 1 dun role ko; gagawin ko role ko. No. 2 depensa kasi marami scorers dito. Pag pinalad ako bibigay ko 100 percent ko talaga,” said Baltazar, who last donned the national team jersey in the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
Gilas is currently perfect in its Group A assignments, entering this window with a 2-0 mark after sweeping Guam late last year.
The Nationals intend to preserve that perfect record, taking on the Tall Blacks first (Feb. 26), before matching up with Boomers three days later.
Both games will be at the Mall of Asia Arena.
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.