Shorthanded once again, but not empty handed this time around.
Behind a breakout performance from Justine Baltazar, the Green Archers outlasts NU 80-76 to notch their first win of the season.
After a slow start which saw themselves trailing by as much as 11 points, La Salle managed to get things going to close out the first half strong and cut the Bulldogs’ lead to just 3. By maintaining their aggressiveness on both ends and with their outside shots finally clicking, the team retook the lead 65-59 with one quarter left to be played.
Both teams went toe-to-toe in the fourth with NU seizing the advantage once again 76-74 with under two minutes left. Aljun Melecio was then fouled taking a three but only managed to sink two freethrows to tie the count.
After NU’s Troy Rike missing both of his foul shots, the Green Archers had a chance to retake the lead and with two seconds left on the shot clock, Baltazar scored on a baseline jumper to put the team up 78-76 with 28 ticks left.
Justin Baltazar left wide open for the open jumper!
DLSU leads, 78-76 with 28 seconds to go! #UAAPSeason81 pic.twitter.com/fPRw7C0iI7
— ABS-CBN Sports (@abscbnsports) September 19, 2018
NU’s chance to tie the game once again failed as they were called for a 5-second inbound violation. Andrei Caracut then sealed the game for La Salle at the foul line.
Baltazar finished with a career high 17 points and 12 boards. Melecio bounces back from his bad offensive outing a week ago to lead all scorers with 19.
Aljun Melecio hits the BOOMING triple! DLSU has tied things up at 52 in Q3! #UAAPSeason81 pic.twitter.com/AHEDxyU7jk
— ABS-CBN Sports (@abscbnsports) September 19, 2018
The Green Archers next face UE this coming Sunday as they shoot for their second-straight win.
Box Scores
DLSU 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
Quarterscores: 16-25, 35-38, 65-59, 80-76
Final Score: DLSU 80-76 NU#UAAPSeason81 #Stats pic.twitter.com/6VSKzZThZx
— Pong Ducanes (@ompongski) September 19, 2018