DLSU Green Archer Justine Baltazar hails from the northern province of Pampanga, and although it may seem that teammate Mark Dyke was recruited from abroad, he actually grew up from the same province. Calvin Abueva, Arwind Santos, and Japeth Aguilar are some Filipino basketball icons who also call Pampanga their home. Their grinding, “out-hustle everyone” style of play has made a reputation for players from Pampanga—players who will do anything on defense to prevent the ball from getting near the basket. In this regard, Dyke and Baltazar do not fall far from the tree of Pampanga players.
Humble beginnings
The two began playing basketball at a young age, and fell in love with the game. And just like most of the players from Pampanga, they started out playing in barangay leagues, gathering attention from there. Dyke represented Pampanga in the Palarong Pambansa and Baltazar joined the Young Stars’ Basketball League. The former got recruited to the San Sebastian Stags, but later on joined the NU Bullpups, while the latter joined the Bullpups at the age of 16.
In the juniors’ division, the NU Bullpups are not to be reckoned with, as both players experienced sweeping the eliminations and winning the championship last season. Baltazar, however, won Finals MVP in a breakout season where he averaged a double-double of 13.4 points and 13.5 rebounds per game. “Kumbaga, yung pinag-hirapan ko nung high school nag pay-off.”
The two players were once the lead players of a highly talented NU Bullpup squad. Now, the rookies find themselves in an unfamiliar situation, playing backup roles for a highly talented La Salle squad. Dyke and Baltazar now face bigger and smarter players and have shown the Lasallian community that the future of the Green Archers is in good hands.
Hoop dreams in Taft
After their respective stints in NU, both players were now heading towards the collegiate level. For Dyke, it was always a dream to don the Green-and-White and to study in the University. Coming from NU, he was recruited by then-head coach Juno Sauler.
But coming in as a freshman, Dyke was met with the residency rule which sanctioned high school athletes from transferring schools within the UAAP by imposing a two-year residency requirement should the school decide not to sign a letter of release. This imposition did not sit well for Dyke, as the anxiety of waiting on the wings coupled with the uncertainty of not being able to play in the UAAP took its toll on the former NU Bullpup.
Borne of this fear, Dyke appeared to be headed back to NU months before the season opener last year. As he shares, “Nang pagbalik na pagpalik ko sa NU [while attending the practices], nasabi ng news na wala nang residency. I went back here [to La Salle],” he shares. Having made the decision, he opted to sit out of UAAP Season 78 as a Lasallian.
Following Sauler’s inability to steer La Salle to a final four spot and his subsequent departure as head coach, Dyke had to fight for a spot on the roster with the appointment of Aldin Ayo as new head coach. Using the time he had last year while on the sidelines to improve his game, his hard work paid off as he would ultimately make it to DLSU’s roster this season.
Meanwhile, Baltazar, after graduating high school, was unsure of where he wanted to go in college. A highly-touted prospect after his Finals MVP performance in the juniors division, it was only until he was convinced by his city vice-mayor to play for La Salle when the soft-spoken big man was decided.
On making adjustments and championship aspirations
Coming from the province and making it to the country’s capital through basketball, it hasn’t been an easy road for Dyke and Baltazar. Taking up degrees in Sports Management while working within the demanding system of head coach Aldin Ayo, both admit that they are still adjusting to the high expectations of performing on the court. As Dyke mentions, “Sa high school, medyo madali lang. Pero pag dating sa college, sobrang hirap kasi madaming magagaling na players.”
Nonetheless, Dyke remains thankful that he is able to learn from his teammates during his rookie year. Although he would naturally play in the power forward or center position in the juniors division, Dyke is working his way down to small forward as it would be advantageous given his size and heft.
For Baltazar, his role as the backup center to Ben Mbala has done wonders for the team, using his length as a defensive presence and in rebounding. Throughout the season, however, he continues to evolve, also showing signs of his offensive repertoire in the post, as well as a midrange jumper.
Now midway through the season, both rookies have showed that they have been able to play at a high level as cogs in coach Ayo’s lineup. In that, they aspire for nothing short of a championship as their ultimate goal more than receiving any individual acclaim. From their beginnings playing in their neighborhood courts of Pampanga, and now in the country’s premier collegiate league, they have come a long way.
