Baltazar’s lucky shoes. Photo by Bong Lozada
Justine Baltazar had one crazy finals series in the UAAP Season 78 juniors basketball and he owed some of it to a lucky charm.
Baltazar wore the first colorway of Under Armour’s Curry 2 which had a signature of NBA super start Stephen Curry, who is having a crazy season of his own, during the championship clincher on Friday at San Juan Arena.
The 6’7” big man torched De La Salle Zobel the entire series, averaging 16.6 points, 20.3 points, and 3.0 blocks in three games.
READ: Bullpups blow by Junior Archers for UAAP Season 78 Juniors title
Baltazar said the shoes proved to be his lucky charm and he somehow regretted not wearing the pair on Game 2 when he wore Nike’s Hyper Rev 2.
“Palagi ko pong ginagamit to, nung Game 2 di ko nagamit,” Baltazar said Friday after tallying 18 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, and four blocks in game 3.
NU yielded to the Junior Archers in game 2, their lone loss of the season.
It was during Curry’s visit to the Philippines in September of 2015 when Baltazar got his pair and the autograph.
He added he felt somehow incomplete when he did not wear the shoes. But he nonetheless emerged a champion just like Curry.