PBA: Back under Aldin Ayo’s tutelage, Jerrick Balanza off to good start at Converge

Jerrick Balanza. PBA PICTURES

MANILA, Philippines-Jerrick Balanza wants to make sure that coach Aldin Ayo makes the right move to get him after a solid debut for Converge at the expense of his former team NorthPort.

Gathered before the start of the PBA Governor’s Cup, Balanza produced 13 points and four rebounds on Sunday as the FiberXers cruised past the Batang Pier, 122-92, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Balanza was an 18-year-old freshman at Letran in 2015 when Ayo led his alma mater to an improbable NCAA championship. Their time together at Muralla may have been short, but the young swingman feels there is a reason why they are in the same team again.

“Maybe he liked what he saw from the early PBA games before he came [to Converge] and they want me in their team because they feel I can fit into their system,” Balanza said in Filipino.

But despite the familiarity, Balanza admits there’s still a bit of a learning curve due to Ayo’s quick offense and attention to detail.

“The adjustment has been difficult because I’ve only been with the team for two weeks,” he said. “It’s great that my teammates and assistant coaches are really open to my questions, because I know Aldin’s coaching system is very complicated and very detailed.

“Until now, I’m still adapting,” added Balanza.

Balanza was actually rumored to be going to Converge when they eliminated the Commissioner’s Cup. But the trade never happened, and Ayo disputed that any moves were made at the time.

Converge is Balanza’s third PBA team, with a chance to finally emerge as a reliable player after some on-and-off performances for his previous employer that included a championship with Barangay Ginebra in 2020.

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