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Justine Baltazar

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In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Sagaya and the surname or paternal family name is Baltazar.
Justine Baltazar
No. 19 – Pampanga Giant Lanterns
PositionPower forward
LeagueMPBL
Personal information
Born (1997-02-19) February 19, 1997 (age 27)
Mabalacat, Pampanga, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Listed height6 ft 9[1] in (2.06 m)
Listed weight250[1] lb (113 kg)
Career information
High schoolNSNU (Manila)
CollegeDe La Salle
PBA draft2024: 1st round, 1st overall pick
Selected by the Converge FiberXers
Playing career2019–present
Career history
2019San Juan Knights
2022Pampanga Delta
2022Hiroshima Dragonflies
2023–presentPampanga G Lanterns / Giant Lanterns
Career highlights and awards

Justine Sagaya Baltazar (born February 19, 1997) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Pampanga Giant Lanterns of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). He is listed at 6 feet 9 ½ inches (2.07 m).[2]

Baltazar played his college career with the De La Salle Green Archers and had a short stint with the San Juan Knights of the MPBL. In 2022, he would make his professional debut with the Pampanga Delta before moving to Japan's B.League to play for the Hiroshima Dragonflies.

In 2023, Baltazar returned to domestic basketball to play for the hometown Pampanga Giant Lanterns franchise in both the Pilipinas Super League (PSL) and later the MPBL. He won two professional championships and two Finals MVP nods across both leagues among numerous accolades with the Giant Lanterns, and would later be selected first overall by the Converge FiberXers during the PBA season 49 draft in 2024. He was also selected to three UAAP Mythical Teams while playing for De La Salle.

Early life and education

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Baltazar was born on February 19, 1997[3] in Mabalacat, Pampanga.[4] He moved to Metro Manila in 2012 to attend the Nazareth School of National University.[5] In college, he attended De La Salle University.

High school and college career

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Baltazar played in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) in high school and college. In the juniors' (high school) division he played for the Nazareth School of National University Bullpups.[6] Baltazar led the team to a runner-up finish in UAAP Season 77 in 2015 and to the title in UAAP Season 78 in 2016.[5] He later transferred to De La Salle University to play for the De La Salle Green Archers, also of the UAAP, for college.[7]

Professional career

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Pampanga Delta (2022)

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Baltazar entered the PBA season 47 draft but later withdrew after an offer from a team from the Japanese B.League.[7][8] He would later make his professional debut with his hometown team Pampanga Delta of the NBL–Philippines playing a game on the same day as the PBA draft. He played for Pampanga before in the 2019–20 season, when the NBL–Philippines was still an amateur league.[9]

Hiroshima Dragonflies (2022)

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In May 2022, Baltazar signed with the Hiroshima Dragonflies of the B.League for the 2022–23 season. He was set to join the team after the conclusion of his stint with the Delta in the 2022 NBL–Philippines season.[10][11] However, he was released on December 20, 2022.[12]

On January 4, 2023, Baltazar announced his commitment to play for the Seoul Samsung Thunders of the Korean Basketball League. However, he failed for show up for the team and the KBL would eventually ban him from the league for two years for a breach of contract.

Pampanga Giant Lanterns (2023–present)

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Baltazar then returned to representing his hometown, this time with the Pampanga Giant Lanterns franchise. In the Pilipinas Super League, he led the team to its first professional league title after defeating the Davao Occidental Tigers in the finals of the 2022–23 DUMPER Cup.

He stayed with the franchise for the 2023 season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, helping the homegrown-laden team start the season 17–0 and going on to clinch the best record in the league that season at 26–2. He then went on to become season MVP and Finals MVP as the Giant Lanterns swept the Bacoor City Strikers in the 2023 MPBL finals.

On July 3, 2024, Baltazar would declare for the PBA draft once again, this time for season 49.[13] He was selected with the first overall pick by the Converge FiberXers, but will finish the 2024 MPBL season with Pampanga as per his contract with the team.[14][15]

National team career

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Baltazar has played for the Philippine national team. He suited up for the national team in the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers and the 2020 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament both in mid-2021.[16]

Personal life

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Baltazar is married to Rizza with whom he has a son.[17]

Career statistics

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MPBL

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

As of the end of 2023 season

Season-by-season averages

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2019–20 San Juan 3 0 21.5 .520 .000 .500 12.3 2.0 0.3 2.0 11.0
2023 Pampanga 36 31 31.3 .544 .250 .635 16.9 4.6 1.6 1.1 17.1

References

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  1. ^ a b "ジャスティン・バルタザール".
  2. ^ "ジャスティン・バルタザール". B.LEAGUE（Bリーグ）公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  3. ^ "Justine BALTAZAR". FIBA Asia Cup Indonesia 2021 Qualifiers. FIBA. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  4. ^ Riego, Norman Lee Benjamin (April 7, 2020). "Basketball: Justine Baltazar gives back to hometown in Pampanga". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Li, Matthew (November 29, 2020). "Napa explains why it took so long to get Baltazar to Gilas". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  6. ^ Leongson, Randolph (October 7, 2019). "La Salle rising star Justine Baltazar never forgets his NU roots". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Collegiate standout Justine Baltazar, G-League veteran Sedrick Barefield lead 75 PBA draft hopefuls". ESPN.com. May 8, 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  8. ^ "La Salle star Justine Baltazar shuns PBA Draft, will play in Japan's B.League". Sunstar. May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  9. ^ Li, Matthew (May 15, 2022). "NBL: Bulacan spoils Justine Baltazar's pro debut". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  10. ^ Li, Matthew (May 26, 2022). "Justine Baltazar signs with Hiroshima Dragons, gets added perk". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  11. ^ Leongson, Randolph (May 26, 2022). "Justine Baltazar officially heading to Japan, signs with Hiroshima". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  12. ^ Leongson, Randolph (December 20, 2022). "Justine Baltazar released by Japan B.League team Hiroshima". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  13. ^ Ramos, Gerry (July 3, 2024). "Consensus No. 1 pick Justine Baltazar applies for PBA draft again". Spin.ph. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  14. ^ Villanueva, Ralph Edwin (July 14, 2024). "Converge-bound Baltazar is No. 1 pick in PBA Draft". Philstar.com. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  15. ^ "Baltazar likely to finish MPBL season before moving to PBA". Spin.ph. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  16. ^ Agcaoili, Lance (March 31, 2022). "UAAP: Justine Baltazar eager to show Gilas learnings in matchup vs Tab, Ateneo". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  17. ^ "La Salle big man Justine Baltazar has big dreams for his family". ESPN.com (in English and Filipino). May 3, 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
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Justine Baltazar via Genius Sports (MPBL)

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