There’s a lot of promise within the Converge FiberXers, but none may hold more potential within the roster (sans the yet-to-debut Justine Baltazar) than Justin Arana. 

Arana has the size, skill, and opportunities to become the latest in a great run for PBA big men. He’s had a longer time in college than most, but it’s an education that provided him with the tools to thrive with an emerging team like the FiberXers. 

Three-point shooting may have been key for Converge’s 93-91 victory over the Magnolia Hotshots, but Arana was responsible for two-thirds of the FiberXers’ interior offense. All Arana’s Converge teammates needed to do was find him because he could easily slip past defenders or bully his way into the basket for easy points. 

His rebounding numbers have been quite low thus far in the 2024-2025 Honda PBA Commissioner’s Cup, but that should be fine given that Cheick Diallo is there. Moreover, the FiberXers would prefer he make his presence felt, regardless if it shows up on the stat sheet. That includes moving without the ball and being at the right place at the right time.

Baltazar’s arrival will definitely take away reps from Arana, but it should not deter him from taking the next step. There’s a ton of cases both here and abroad where big men can coexist with one another, especially if their playing styles complement each other. 

That Arana was able to hold his own against the Hotshots shows he can handle physical basketball, but his subpar performance against the Hong Kong Eastern reveals he needs work on playing against teams that play a different style of basketball. 

At this point, Arana getting the ball more often than not means that a Converge possession on offense will end with him and the next step for the 25-year old is to become an able passer. He doesn’t need to rack up assists in bunches, but learning to utilize what the defense gives him for the benefit of his team will only come back to him in the end. 

On defense, Arana can get too excited and give up baskets and fouls, so patience is the next step he needs to take on that end so that he doesn’t become a target of more sophisticated teams on defense. The trust is there from the FiberXers coaching staff; it’s on Arana now to repay the faith with his work. 

The discussions with up-and-coming players tend to focus on two things: those that have taken the leap and those poised to make that step. Justin Arana is currently in the latter, and the impending arrival of Justine Baltazar should not be a hindrance as Arana finds ground to make the jump.