By Ivan Saldajeno
SAN JUAN, MM--Justine Baltazar dominated the interior defensively while getting some deserving offensive contributions late in the game as NSNU moved to within a win from completing a full 16-0 sweep of the UAAP juniors basketball tournament with a 78-58 mauling of La Salle-Zobel in Game 1 of the finals series at the FilOil Flying V Centre on Friday.
Baltazar had 15 points, 27 rebounds, and four blocks along with one assist and one steal while getting baskets late in the match where the Bullpups, who earned an outright finals seat plus a thrice-to-beat advantage by going 14-0 in the eliminations, pulled away from late in the first quarter.
John Lloyd Clemente led NU's early charge and finished with 16 points and eight rebounds.
Soon-to-be-crowned season MVP Aljun Melecio struggled for most of the game and only got to make consecutive baskets when the outcome was already decided. He led La Salle-Zobel with 15 points on 6-of-21 shooting along with seven rebounds, six assists, and one steal.
Box Scores:
NSNU 78-Clemente 16, Baltazar 15, Peñano 12, Sarip 7, Manalang 5, Jugar 5, Atienza 4, Tolentino 4, Callejo 3, Beldua 3, Amsali 2, Coyoca 2, Fortea 0, Careng 0, Mosqueda 0
La Salle-Zobel 58-Melecio 15, Sario 10, Romero 10, Mariano 8, Fortuna 6, Cabarrus 4, Sobrevega 3, Paraiso 2, Tongco 0, Francisco 0, Rabat 0
Quarterscores: 22-13, 40-22, 62-39, 78-58
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