Aljun Melecio overcame offensive struggles as De La Salle-Zobel bagged its second straight win with a 72-61 decision over UP Integrated School Tuesday in the UAAP Season 78 juniors basketball tournament at the Arena in San Juan.
Former titlist National University overpowered University of Santo Tomas, 80-54, to also move to 2-0 with Winderlich Coyoca, Karl Penano and John Lloyd Clemente combining 44 points.
Melecio, who scored 42 points in the Junior Archers’ 84-72 season-opening win against the Blue Eaglets Saturday, had 26 points this time on a 9-of-25 shooting.
But Melecio somehow delivered an impressive all-around game with seven assists, six rebounds and five steals in 32 minutes of play for De La Salle-Zobel.
Meanwhile, defending champion Ateneo entered the win column with a 85-66 rout of Far Eastern University-Diliman behind Jolo Mendoza’s 34 points, while Adamson University also improved to 1-1 by overwhelming University of the East, 83-52.
Bryan Andrade and Romulo Berjay also delivered the goods for Ateneo with 13 and 10 points, respectively.
Kenji Roman had 17 points and eight boards while James Bieren and JJ Sapinit tossed in 13 markers apiece for the Baby Tamaraws, who dropped to a 1-1 tie with the Eaglets and Baby Falcons.
Jose Antiporda led Adamson with 12 points and seven boards while Jerry Abadiano also scored 12 points while Ralf Chua added 10 points and six assists.