Justine Baltazar

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Justine Baltazar

| image = PBA 2025May23 NLEXvCON CON JustineBaltazar.jpg

| caption = Baltazar in 2025

| position = Power forward / center

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 9{{cite web | url=https://www.bleague.jp/roster_detail/?PlayerID=51000143 | title=ジャスティン・バルタザール }}

| weight_lb = 250

| number = 19

| team = Converge FiberXers

| league = PBA

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|2|19}}

| birth_place = Mabalacat, Pampanga, Philippines

| nationality = Filipino

| high_school = NSNU (Manila)

| college = De La Salle

| draft_year_pba = 2024

| draft_round_pba = 1

| draft_pick_pba = 1

| draft_team_pba = Converge FiberXers

| career_start = 2019

| years1 = 2019

| team1 = San Juan Knights

| years2 = 2022

| team2 = Pampanga Delta

| years3 = 2022

| team3 = Hiroshima Dragonflies

| years4 = 2023–2024

| team4 = Pampanga G Lanterns / Giant Lanterns

| years5 = 2024–present

| team5 = Converge FiberXers

| highlights =

2× MPBL champion (2023, 2024)
2× MPBL Most Valuable Player (2023, 2024)
2× MPBL Finals MVP (2023, 2024)
2× All-MPBL First Team (2023, 2024)
2× MPBL All-Star (2023, 2024)
MPBL All-Star Game MVP (2023)
PSL champion (2023)
PSL Finals MVP (2023)
UAAP champion (2016)
3× UAAP Mythical Team (2018, 2019, 2021)

| medaltemplates =

}}

Justine Sagaya Baltazar (born February 19, 1997), nicknamed "Balti", is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Converge FiberXers of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He is listed at 6 feet 9 ½ inches (2.07 m).{{Cite web |title=ジャスティン・バルタザール |url=https://www.bleague.jp/roster_detail/?PlayerID=51000143 |access-date=2023-03-14 |website=B.LEAGUE（Bリーグ）公式サイト |language=ja}}

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 once again play for his hometown, this time with the Pampanga Giant Lanterns in both the Pilipinas Super League (PSL) and later the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). During his stint with the Giant Lanterns, he won numerous accolades, including three championships, three finals MVPs, and two season MVPs across both leagues. He became the first player in the MPBL to win two finals MVPs and season MVPs, where he won in both 2023 and 2024.

He 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

Baltazar was born on February 19, 1997{{cite web |title=Justine BALTAZAR |url=https://www.fiba.basketball/asiacup/2021/qualifiers/player/Justine-Baltazar |website=FIBA Asia Cup Indonesia 2021 Qualifiers |publisher=FIBA |access-date=May 28, 2022 |language=en}} in Mabalacat, Pampanga.{{cite news |last1=Riego |first1=Norman Lee Benjamin |title=Basketball: Justine Baltazar gives back to hometown in Pampanga |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/04/07/20/justine-baltazar-shares-savings-to-give-back-to-hometown-in-pampanga |access-date=May 28, 2022 |work=ABS-CBN News |date=April 7, 2020}} He moved to Metro Manila in 2012 to attend the Nazareth School of National University.{{cite news |last1=Li |first1=Matthew |title=Napa explains why it took so long to get Baltazar to Gilas |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/jeff-napa-explains-why-it-took-so-long-to-get-justine-baltazar-to-gilas/197136 |access-date=May 28, 2022 |work=Tiebreaker Times |date=November 29, 2020}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Leongson |first1=Randolph |title=La Salle rising star Justine Baltazar never forgets his NU roots |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/uaap-men/justine-baltazar-says-coach-jeff-napa-remains-his-biggest-inspiration-a2437-20191007 |access-date=May 28, 2022 |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |date=October 7, 2019 |language=en}} 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.{{cite news |title=Collegiate standout Justine Baltazar, G-League veteran Sedrick Barefield lead 75 PBA draft hopefuls |url=https://www.espn.com/basketball/pba/story/_/id/33880439/collegiate-standout-justine-baltazar-g-league-veteran-sedrick-barefield-lead-75-pba-draft-hopefuls |access-date=May 28, 2022 |work=ESPN.com |date=May 8, 2022 |language=en}}

Professional career

= Pampanga Delta (2022) =

Baltazar entered the PBA season 47 draft but later withdrew after an offer from a team from the Japanese B.League.{{cite news |title=La Salle star Justine Baltazar shuns PBA Draft, will play in Japan's B.League |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1928872/cebu/sports/la-salle-star-justine-baltazar-shuns-pba-draft-will-play-in-japans-bleague |access-date=May 28, 2022 |work=Sunstar |date=May 13, 2022 |language=English}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Li |first1=Matthew |title=NBL: Bulacan spoils Justine Baltazar's pro debut |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/nbl-bulacan-spoils-justine-baltazars-pro-debut/240173 |access-date=May 28, 2022 |work=Tiebreaker Times |date=May 15, 2022}}

= 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.{{cite news |last1=Li |first1=Matthew |title=Justine Baltazar signs with Hiroshima Dragons, gets added perk |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/b-league-justine-baltazar-signs-with-hiroshima-dragons-gets-added-perk/241028 |access-date=May 28, 2022 |work=Tiebreaker Times |date=May 26, 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Leongson |first1=Randolph |title=Justine Baltazar officially heading to Japan, signs with Hiroshima |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/japan-b-league/justine-baltazar-officially-heading-to-japan-for-hiroshima-a2437-20220526 |access-date=May 28, 2022 |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |date=May 26, 2022 |language=en}} However, he was released on December 20, 2022.{{cite news |last1=Leongson |first1=Randolph |title=Justine Baltazar released by Japan B.League team Hiroshima |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/japan-b-league/justine-baltazar-released-by-japan-b-league-team-hiroshima-a2438-20221220 |access-date=December 20, 2022 |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |date=December 20, 2022 |language=en}}

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 (2023–2024) =

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.

In the succeeding 2024 season, Balti continued to lead Pampanga as they tied for the best regular season record and back-to-back berths into the national finals. He then went on to lead the team to back-to-back titles after sweeping the Quezon Huskers in the 2024 MPBL finals, earning his second MPBL Finals MVP nod, becoming the first team to do so. He also became the first player to win two regular season MVP nods.

= Converge FiberXers (2024–present) =

On July 3, 2024, Baltazar would declare for the PBA draft once again, this time for season 49.{{Cite web |last=Ramos |first=Gerry |date=2024-07-03 |title=Consensus No. 1 pick Justine Baltazar applies for PBA draft again |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/potential-top-pick-justine-baltazar-applies-in-pba-draft-again-a793-20240703 |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}} He was selected with the first overall pick by the Converge FiberXers, but committed to finished the 2024 MPBL season with the Giant Lanterns as per his contract with the team.{{Cite web |last=Villanueva |first=Ralph Edwin |date=2024-07-14 |title=Converge-bound Baltazar is No. 1 pick in PBA Draft |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2024/07/14/2370137/converge-bound-baltazar-no-1-pick-pba-draft |access-date=2024-07-14 |website=Philstar.com}}{{Cite web |title=Baltazar likely to finish MPBL season before moving to PBA |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/justine-baltazar-may-finish-mpbl-season-with-pampanga-before-moving-to-pba-a795-20240710 |access-date=2024-07-14 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}} On December 11, 2024, he officially signed with Converge.{{cite news |first=Delfin |last=Dioquino |date=December 11, 2024 |title=Top pick Justine Baltazar nears PBA debut after signing with Converge |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/pba/justine-baltazar-nears-debut-signs-converge-fiberxers/ |work=Rappler |access-date=December 11, 2024 }}

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.{{cite news |last1=Agcaoili |first1=Lance |title=UAAP: Justine Baltazar eager to show Gilas learnings in matchup vs Tab, Ateneo |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/456713/uaap-justine-baltazar-eager-to-show-gilas-learnings-in-matchup-vs-tab-ateneo |access-date=May 28, 2022 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=March 31, 2022 |language=en}}

Personal life

Baltazar is married to Rizza with whom he has a son.{{cite news |title=La Salle big man Justine Baltazar has big dreams for his family |url=https://www.espn.ph/basketball/colleges/story/_/id/33847194/la-salle-big-man-justine-baltazar-big-dreams-family |access-date=May 28, 2022 |work=ESPN.com |date=May 3, 2022 |language=en, fil}}