Justin Baltazar. FACEBOOK PHOTO/Jake Rovin Morales
NATIONAL University leaned on an explosive second half to turn back defending champion Ateneo, 73-60, and complete a first-round sweep of the UAAP Season 78 juniors basketball yesterday at Blue Eagle gym.
Justine Baltazar dominated with 18 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks while John Lloyd Clemente added another 18 points as the Bullpups won all their seven matches.
Jolo Mendoza, last season’s Finals Most Valuable Players, was a nonfactor for Ateneo as he went scoreless in 15 minutes of action due to a hurting knee.
Ateneo dropped to second at 5-2 in a tie with De La Salle Zobel, which bowed to Adamson U, 66-79.
In the curtain-raiser, UP Integrated School finally prevailed after six losses with a 104-69 trouncing of winless University of the East.
Far Eastern U-Diliman whipped University of Santo Tomas, 61-40, in another game.