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B.League: Justine Baltazar leaves Hiroshima Dragonflies

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Justine Baltazar played just a total of 13 minutes for Hiroshima. (c) B.LEAGUE" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/sports/12/20/20221220-justine-baltazar.jpg"/><figcaption>Justine Baltazar played just a total of 13 minutes for Hiroshima. <em>(c) B.LEAGUE</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Justine Baltazar is leaving the Hiroshima Dragonflies after a brief stint with the Japanese ball club, the <a href="https://hiroshimadragonflies.com/news/detail/id=17823" target="_blank">team announced</a> on Tuesday morning.</p><p>The two sides came to a &quot;mutual agreement&quot; to cancel Baltazar&#x27;s contract with the Dragonflies. This means that the former De La Salle University center will not compete in the B.League Asia Rising Star Game in January.</p><p>&quot;To all the fans, thank you for supporting me and the whole Hiroshima Dragonflies team,&quot; Baltazar said in comments provided by the club. &quot;Thank you for cheering me on since Day 1.&quot;</p><p>&quot;You will forever have a special place in my heart. I hope you&#x27;ll still support me and the rest of the team,&quot; he added.</p><p>Baltazar was tipped to be a top pick in the 2022 PBA Rookie Draft after a glittering UAAP career with the Green Archers, but the big man from Pampanga ultimately opted to play in Japan. His foray in the B.League didn&#x27;t play out as planned, however.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/26/22/bleague-justine-baltazar-signs-with-hiroshima-dragonflies">READ: Justine Baltazar signs with Hiroshima Dragonflies</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/08/22/22/bleague-hiroshima-has-high-expectations-from-baltazar">READ: Justine Baltazar embraces high expectations in Hiroshima Dragonflies</a></li></ul><p>He only saw action in eight games, playing a total of 13 minutes and tallying two points, a rebound, an assist, and a steal throughout his stint. </p><p>Shuji Okazaki, the general manager of the Dragonflies, said he was grateful for Baltazar even though his time with the team did not work out as they hoped. </p><p>&quot;It was a shorter period than originally planned,&quot; Okazaki admitted. &quot;But I am truly grateful to Baltazar who fought for Hiroshima.&quot;</p><p>Baltazar becomes the second Filipino import to leave his team in the 2022-23 season of the B.League. Veteran cager Jay Washington was also released by the Ryukyu Golden Kings earlier in December, before finding his way to Japan&#x27;s third division with the Yokohama Excellence.</p><div><strong>Related video:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zNLijY8jdkA?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

Justine Baltazar is leaving the Hiroshima Dragonflies after a brief stint with the Japanese ball club, the team announced on Tuesday morning.

B.League: Justine Baltazar leaves Hiroshima Dragonflies

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B.League: Justine Baltazar leaves Hiroshima Dragonflies

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 20, 2022 11:33 AM PHT

Read More:

basketball

Japan

Japan B.League

Hiroshima Dragonflies

Justine Baltazar

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