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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Baltazar block saves the day as Converge escapes Terrafirma

Baltazar block saves the day as Converge escapes Terrafirma

Published Jul 15, 2026 07:21 pm

At A Glance

  • Justin Baltazar stepped up on the defensive end as Converge escaped Terrafirma, 105-103, to go 2-0 in the PBA Season 50 Governors' Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, July 15.

Justin Baltazar stepped up on the defensive end as Converge escaped Terrafirma, 105-103, to go 2-0 in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, July 15.

The lanky forward rose and blocked what could have been a game-tying layup from Aljon Mariano with 26 seconds left before the FiberXers dodged a huge bullet in the waning seconds to prevent the huge collapse.

The huge rejection from Baltazar also preserved a second career-best showing of 31 points and 10 rebounds from his frontcourt partner Justin Arana. 

Baltazar isn’t too shabby either with 16 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks while Juan Gomez de Liano added 19.

The FiberXers led by as many as 16 points in the contest but the Dyip, just like in their 101-100 loss to NLEX last time out, rallied back in the final frame and came close to snatching the game away.

After the Mariano miss, Terrafirma just refused to go into the night silently, stealing the ball away from Converge, giving Maverick Ahanmisi the shot at the buzzer. The shot however just rattled out for the Dyip which now slid to a 1-2 slate.

Import Justin Strings exploded for 40 points and 11 rebounds, completely outplaying his Converge counterpart Jalen Hudson, who only had two points.

Juami Tiongson chipped in 17 while CJ Catapusan also provided the spark with 11 off the bench.

Related Tags

Converge FiberXers PBA Terrafirma Dyip Justine Baltazar
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