The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is currently holding its mid-season conference, during which several rookie players are poised to make their respective debuts, including the first overall pick from the most recent draft.
Jordan Heading, a distinguished former Gilas draft selection, is set to make his entrance into the league with the Converge FiberXers. His rights were acquired from Terrafirma in exchange for Aljun Melecio, Keith Zaldivar, and a first-round pick in Season 51.
Heading, a 28-year-old Fil-Australian sharpshooter, was the top selection of the Dyip in the special draft for Gilas players in 2020.
He is among three inaugural players representing the Converge franchise.
Pao Javillonar, a prominent big man, will also debut in Asia’s oldest professional basketball league following his collegiate career at Letran. The FiberXers selected him as the 19th overall pick in the second round.
Additionally, the highly-regarded Justine Baltazar, selected as the number one overall pick, is expected to wear Converge’s purple and white jersey in this second conference. However, he will miss the initial games as he concludes his commitments with the Pampanga Giant Lanterns in the MPBL finals.
The 27-year-old native of Mabalacat has not yet been included in the FiberXers’ official lineup for the tournament.
Two first-round selections are also anticipated to participate for the first time: Jerom Lastimosa and Mark Nonoy.
Lastimosa, a 26-year-old from Adamson University, was selected ninth overall by Magnolia but will miss the season-opening Governors’ Cup as he continues his recovery from ACL surgery, which sidelined him for nearly a year.
In contrast, Nonoy, chosen immediately after Lastimosa at the tenth position, awaited the expiration of his contract with Iloilo United Royals in the MPBL before signing with Terrafirma.
The Dyip acquired the rights to the former De La Salle and University of Santo Tomas guard as a result of a significant trade between Barangay Ginebra and Terrafirma, which involved Stephen Holt, Isaac Go, and the tenth overall draft pick in exchange for Christian Standhardinger, Stanley Pringle, and the third top pick that ultimately became RJ Abarrientos.
Furthermore, Terrafirma is set to introduce another rookie, CJ Catapusan, who was drafted fifteenth overall, alongside Nonoy. The two players were previous teammates with the United Royals.
Another new player making his debut this conference is Miguel Corteza, who will play for Blackwater. Initially selected as the 20th pick (second round) by Rain or Shine, he was subsequently traded to the Bossing for a future second-round pick.
Other rookie signings, such as Agem Miranda from Northport and Mike Malonzo from Rain or Shine, have yet to secure official positions in their respective teams’ lineups. Malonzo was the 16th pick by the Elasto Painters, while Miranda was selected 29th by the Batang Pier.
