23 September 2018
By Maxine Louise Lagman
Manila, Philippines – The De La Salle University kept their winning ways as they defeated University of the East, 82-72, Sunday in the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.
DLSU was hot from the get go and relied on Aljun Melecio’s sweet shooting three’s that silenced the Red Warriors. He exploded four triples in the first half that helped La Salle create a comfortable 12-point cushion, 39-27.
UE tried to make a comeback in the third with a 13-5 run, but it was not enough to put the Archers down.
La Salle extended their lead to 14 in the third, 59-45, and never looked back coming into the fourth as Melecio sealed the win with another triple.
Melecio paved the way for La Salle with 16 points on 5-of-7 percent shooting from the three-point line, while Justine Baltazar chipped in a double-double record of 16 points and 14 rebounds on top of three blocks.
Encho Serrano had 11 markers, while Jollo Go added 10 as La Salle share the second spot in the team standings with Ateneo De Manila University and Far Eastern University with a 2-1 slate.
Alvin Pasaol led the Red Warriors again with 22 points in the losing effort as UE dropped to 0-3.
The Scores:
La Salle 82 – Baltazar 16, Melecio 16, Serrano 11, Go 10, Caracut 9, Santillan 6, Dyke 5, Bates 3, Manuel 2, Montalbo 2, Corteza 2, Capacio 0.
UE 72 – Pasaol 22, Varilla 14, Manalang 11, Bartolome 6, Maloles 5, Cullar 4, Gallardo 4, Acuno 2, Strait 2, Lacap 2, Antiporda 0, Beltran 0, Guion 0.
Quarters: 21-14, 39-27, 59-45, 82-72.
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