HAVING formidable big men remains the yardstick of success in the PBA.
Consider these: San Miguel Beer, with 6-foot-10 and seven-time MVP June Mar Fajardo leading the way, had a dominant 10 title wins in the last decade.
Ginebra, the country’s most popular squad, had won seven crowns in that same span powered by the likes of centers Christian Standhardinger and Japeth Aguilar, and 7-foot Greg Slaughter.
In the last Philippine Cup cage wars, Meralco neutralized Fajardo with slotman Raymond Almazan, Norbert Torres, Kyle Pascual, and rookie Brandon Bates taking turns in banging bodies with “The Kraken.”
Player agent Charlie Dy is convinced big men will be a hot commodity in the pro league Draft set July 14 at a venue still to be announced.
“I think depende talaga sa composition ng teams,” Dy said three days ago on the Power and Play program hosted by former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala. “Kapag wala silang malaki, they will really go for the big guys na nasa Draft.
“Pero kung medyo iyong team mo ay kulang ng leader, you would want an Evan Nelle or CJ Cansino.”
Six-foot-9 Justine Baltazar, a former La Salle standout and Gilas Pilipinas national team training pool member, is reportedly joining this year’s proceedings.
Converge owns the No. 1 pick and tabbing the Mabalacat, Pampanga native will be a no brainer.
FiberXers coach Aldin Ayo and Baltazar won a title together with the Green Archers in the UAAP in 2016.
Baltazar’s current coach at the Pampanga Giant Lanterns in the MPBL, Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda, is also his long-time backer and adviser who Converge tried to name as governor in the board.
Baltazar was named season and finals MVP last year in the regional league.
Dy said if and when Baltazar pushes through with his application, Converge will certainly choose him to form a dreaded frontline with upstart center Justin Arana.
The 6-foot-7 Arana bagged last season’s Rookie of the Year plum.
“Converge is ready to draft Baltazar,” he said. “They’ve been eyeing him since last year.”
Aside from Baltazar, the likes of Evan Nelle, CJ Cansino, Fil-Ams Caelan Tiongson and Ben Philips, Francis Escandor, DJ Mitchell, Calvin Payawal, CJ Catapusan, and Paul Garcia make up the initial list of rookie hopefuls.
Outside Baltazar, it’s only Phillips, at 6-foot-8, the other big man among the early applicants.
Players have until this Thursday, July 4, to submit their application for the Draft.
