Justine Baltazar

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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 schoolNazareth School of National University
CollegeDe La Salle University
Playing career2019–present
Career history
2019San Juan Knights
2022Pampanga Delta
2022Hiroshima Dragonflies
2023–presentPampanga G Lanterns / Giant Lanterns
Career highlights and awards

Justine 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]

Early life and education[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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]

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]

Baltazar then went on to play for the Pampanga Giant Lanterns franchise, first in the Pilipinas Super League, where they the 2022 DUMPER Cup championship against the Davao Occidental Tigers. He stayed with the franchise for its season debut in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, helping the team start the season 17–0 and clinching the best record in the league that season. 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.

National team career[edit]

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.[13]

Personal life[edit]

Baltazar is married to Rizza with whom he has a son.[14]

References[edit]

  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. ^ 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.
  14. ^ "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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