Justine Baltazar was officially named the first back-to-back Most Valuable Player of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Sixth Season on Saturday.
A dominant force in the tournament, Baltazar – who was a runaway winner last year – once again excelled throughout the 29-team competition.
The first overall pick in the 2024 PBA Draft averaged 15.56 points, 16 rebounds, 5.91 assists, 1.19 steals, and 1.2 blocks, while playing 30.44 minutes per game for the defending champion Pampanga Giant Lanterns.
At 6-foot-8, Baltazar’s mobility stood out as he predominantly scored from short-range shots, boasting a field goal percentage of 50.39%.
His performance helped Pampanga clinch the North Division championship with a two-game sweep of San Juan.
Then came victories in both Game One and Game Two of the National Finals in Dubai against South Division champion Quezon Province.
Rising to the occasion, Baltazar elevated his performance in the National Finals, averaging 18.5 points, 17.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 3 steals, and 1.5 blocks.
Joining Baltazar in the Mythical Team are Orlan Wamar of the San Juan Knights, Jaycee Marcelino of Zamboanga Masters Sardines, Will McAloney of the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards, and Cedric Ablaza of the Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters.
The Second Team includes Greg Slaughter of the Manila SV Batang Sampaloc SGA Stars, JP Sarao of the Paranaque Patriots, Robby Celiz of Nueva Ecija, Archie Concepcion of Pampanga, and L-Jay Gonzales of the Quezon Huskers.
Although a jaw injury in the first quarter of Game One affected Gonzales’ performance in the first two games of the National Finals, his standout play in the South Division title series.
There, the Huskers defeated the Rum Masters 2-1, earned him the Rookie of the Year award.
Other notable awards include JR Olegario of the Paranaque Patriots, named Best Homegrown Player; Dawn Ochea of Batangas, who was recognized as the Best Defensive Player; Lawrence Victoria of Rizal Xentromall, who won Most Improved Player; and Nikko Panganiban of San Juan, who received the Sportsmanship Award.
Cong. Oca Malapitan of the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo was honored as Best Executive during the awards ceremony, which took place before Game Three of the National Finals at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
MPBL Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes presented the awards, while founder and CEO Manny Pacquiao arrived at the venue after his flight from Dubai to watch Game Three.
