MANILA – De La Salle University Green Archers handed their former coach Aldin Ayo and University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers a 99-72 beating in the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Justine Baltazar continued his fine play with career-high 22 points and 10 rebounds while Aljun Melecio dropped 17 of his 19 points total in the opening half for the Green Archers (3-2).
The Wednesday victory was a huge morale boost for the Green Archers ahead of their clash with archrival Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, now on a four-game winning run (4-1), on Saturday.
The Green Archers surged to a 10-2 start with Baltazar and Joaqui Manuel scoring at will inside. The gap grew to a 54-34 spread at the half on outside conversions from Melecio and Jollo Go.
Their lead swelled further in the second half with Baltazar, Leonard Santillan and Encho Serrano penetrating the shorthanded frontline of the Tigers toward their largest lead 99-68.
Henri Lorenzo Subido led the way with 16 points, while Marvin Lee and Zachary Huang chipped in 13 markers apiece for the Tigers, which suffered their third straight loss (1-4).
In the second game, Wendelino Comboy waxed hot in the endgame as Far Eastern University Tamaraws cruised to a 73-68 win over National University Bulldogs.
Holding to a slim 3-point lead with over four minutes left, Comboy anchored FEU’s scoring run to surge to a 71-63 lead. The Bulldogs rallied to within 68-71 but Kenneth Tuffin scored from inside to seal the win for the Tamaraws.
Comboy finished the match with 18 markers for the Tamaraws, which tied with the Green Archers. John Lloyd Clemente had 15 markers for the Bulldogs (1-4)./PN
