Justine Baltazar

Justine Baltazar

Baltazar (left) in 2024
No. 19 – Converge FiberXers
Position	Power forward / center
League	PBA
Personal information
Born	(1997-02-19) February 19, 1997 (age 28) Mabalacat, Pampanga, Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Listed height	6 ft 9[1] in (2.06 m)
Listed weight	250[1] lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school	NSNU (Manila)
College	De La Salle
PBA draft	2024: 1st round, 1st overall pick
Selected by the Converge FiberXers
Playing career	2019–present
Career history
2019	San Juan Knights
2022	Pampanga Delta
2022	Hiroshima Dragonflies
2023–2024	Pampanga G Lanterns / Giant Lanterns
2024–present	Converge FiberXers
Career highlights and awards
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)

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).^[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 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.