Game Friday:
(Filoil Flying V Arena)
2 p.m. – NU vs ADMU (Jrs finals)
MANILA, Philippines – Justine Baltazar shone as defending champion National University eliminated La Salle-Zobel, 61-45, to forge a championship rematch with Ateneo in the UAAP Season 77 juniors basketball stepladder semifinals on Monday at the Blue Eagle Gym.
The back-to-back seeking Bullpups face the thrice-to-beat Blue Eaglets in the opener on Friday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Ateneo advanced to the Finals outright after sweeping all of its 14 matches in the double-round eliminations.
Imposing his huge frame at will, Baltazar helped NU in scoring 11 straight points in the first seven minutes of the game and never looked back.
The 6-foot-6 Baltazar finished with a double-double effort of 13 points and 11 rebounds to compliment John Clemente's 14 points for the Bullpups.
Forward Mark Dyke scored only nine points but pulled down a game-high 13 boards.
NU has earlier won the men's and women's basketball championship and is eyeing to be the first school since University of Santo Tomas in the mid-90s to win the triple crown in the league's centerpiece sport.
The Bullpups may be the underdogs against the Eaglets, but coach Jeff Napa, a former King Bulldog, remains unfazed.
"Mas mahirap man ang pagdadaraan, eh di mas masarap," said Napa.
Aljun Melecio had 15 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two assists, while Joaquin Banzon added 14 points and six boards for the Junior Archers.
Despite having a young roster, La Salle-Zobel overachieved, finishing ahead of much-heralded teams Adamson University and Far Eastern University-Diliman.
The scores:
NU (61) – Clemente 14, Baltazar 13, Dyke 9, Manalang 9, Sta. Ana 5, Calma 5, Ferreras 4, Penano 2, Atienza 0, Claveria 0, De Guzman 0, Mina 0, Saquian 0.
DLSZ (45) – Melecio Alj. 15, Banzon 14, Romero 4, Melecio Ale. 3, Fortuna 3, Isaac 2, Paraiso 2, Sario 1, Webb 1, Cabarrus 0, Tongco 0.