Justine Baltazar

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).

He has won two championships with the Pampanga Giant Lanterns franchise, one each in both the MPBL and Pilipinas Super League (PSL), winning Finals MVP nods in both occasions. He was also selected to three UAAP Mythical Teams while playing for the De La Salle Green Archers.

During the PBA season 49 draft, he was selected first overall by the Converge FiberXers.

Early life and education
Baltazar was born on February 19, 1997 in Mabalacat, Pampanga. He moved to Metro Manila in 2012 to attend the Nazareth School of National University. In college, he attended De La Salle University.

High school and college career
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. 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. He later transferred to De La Salle University to play for the De La Salle Green Archers, also of the UAAP, for college.

Pampanga Delta (2022)
Baltazar entered the PBA season 47 draft but later withdrew after an offer from a team from the Japanese B.League. 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.

Hiroshima Dragonflies (2022)
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. However, he was released on December 20, 2022.

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)
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. He was selected with the first overall pick by the Converge FiberXers, but may still finish the 2024 MPBL season with Pampanga as per his contract with the team.

National team career
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.

Personal life
Baltazar is married to Rizza with whom he has a son.