Justine Baltazar is bound for the B.League.
Hiroshima has announced that it has signed the 6-foot-7 product of De La Salle University for the 2021-22 season.
Though the length of the contract was not revealed, the team’s release confirmed Tiebreaker Times’ report that Justine will be allowed to bring his wife Chik and son Zeus to Japan as well.
“Before signing the contract, I was thinking about my family first. Of course, I also had a strong desire to join this team. However, after considering my wife and son, I thought that Hiroshima Dragonfly was a wonderful team for my family,” said the 25-year-old native of Pampanga.
“It is a great honor to be a member of the team. This will be a memorable run. I would like to do my best to contribute to the club.”
Baltazar played all five of his collegiate years in La Salle. He is a one-time champion and a three-time all-UAAP team member.
He also suited up for Gilas last year.
Before leaving for Japan, he will first finish out the current NBL season with the team of his mentor and agent Delta Pineda, Pampanga.
(C) NBL-Pilipinas
The Dragonflies, meanwhile, finished last season with a 29-28 record.
“With a height of 207 cm and long limbs, he will not only able to persistently enter the rebound as he also is good at outside shooting, so I am confident that the variation of our offense will increase,” said Dragonflies team manager Shuji Okazaki. “He will also increase the variety of our tactics when he joins the team as his basketball IQ is also high. I look forward to the success that leads the team to victory. “
Also retained so far by the Dragonflies for the season are Ryo Satohara, Seiya Funyu, Yasunori Aoki, Naoto Tsuji, Isaiah Murphy, and Nick Mayo.
