19 September 2018
By Maxine Louise Lagman
Manila, Philippines – De La Salle University escaped the gritty National University for an 80-76 win on Wednesday in the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Third year center Justine Baltazar saved the Green Archers from another devastating loss as he drilled a long jumper in the last 28 seconds of the game for a 78-76 lead.
La Salle now stands at a 1-1 win-loss record as they bounced back from a 68-61 loss to FEU, while NU also dropped to a 1-1 slate.
It was a hard win for the Archers who trailed by 11 points in the first half. However, they exploded 30 points in the third quarter and inched closer to the Bulldogs.
Troy Rike provided NU with three consecutive crucial baskets that put the game on dreadlock, 76-all with less than two minutes of the game.
That’s when Baltazar hit the jumper for La Salle and Andrei Caracut followed suit by sealing the deal with two perfect freebies.
Baltazar had a 17-point 12-rebound double-double, while Aljun Melecio led the Green Archers with 19 markers.
Leonard Santillan and Jollo Go chipped in 10 points each for the win.
Meanwhile, rookie Dave Ildefonso led the Bulldogs again with 16 points. Rike added 15 markers and six boards in the losing effort.
The Scores:
LA SALLE 80 – Melecio 19, Baltazar 17, Santillan 10, Go 10, Manuel 7, Caracut 6, Montalbo 4, Bates 4, Dyke 2, Serrano 1, Corteza 0
NU 76 – Ildefonso D 16, Rike 15, Clemente 12, Ildefonso S 9, Joson 8, Gaye 8, Diputado 2, Gallego 2, Sinclair 2, Galinato 2, Yu 0, Aquino 0, Tibayan 0, Malonzo 0
QUARTER SCORES: 16-25, 35-38, 65-59, 80-76
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