Balti’s team now has a 10-0 win-loss card.
Justine Baltazar is perceived to be one of the top prospects coming into the 2023 PBA Draft slated to take place this September. Why wouldn’t he be?
Standing at 6-foot-9, the former De La Salle Green Archers standout can be effective playing multiple positions, specifically, center, power forward, and small forward. He’s got a midrange jumper, he can finish inside, he can defend, and most notably, he grabs rebounds like there’s no tomorrow.
On Tuesday, the former Gilas Pilipinas member towed the Pampanga Giant Lanterns to a 74-72 victory over the Bataan Risers in the ongoing season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
What’s so special about it? Well, Baltazar decided to mess around and haul in a league record 27 rebounds, surpassing the 26 boards he previously held along with JR Taganas. That’s special, right? Balti’s record-setting performance at the Bataan People’s Center also saw him post 13 points, 7 assists, and 2 blocks.
Not too long ago, Baltazar’s basketball career hit a speed bump as his professional stint overseas failed to take off. The 26-year-old cager, however, seems to have completely moved on from that setback. As a key cog of the Giant Lanterns, Baltazar has been tearing things up in the MPBL, averaging 20.1 points and 16.5 rebounds per game. As of May 29, the Mabalacat, Pampanga native continues to lead the regional league in the two statistical categories.
In four months, Asia’s oldest pro league will experience an influx of fresh, young hoop talents through the draft. If everything goes smoothly for Baltazar, expect his name to be called quite early during the ceremony.
And when the 48th season of the PBA finally begins, Balti might just turn out to be a threat to June Mar Fajardo's PBA single-game rebounding record by a local, which stands at 31.
(GM)