UAAP: Justine Baltazar, Kurt Lojera deliver as La Salle beats FEU

La Salle big man Justine Baltazar. UAAP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Justine Baltazar and Kurt Lojera put on the finishing touches as La Salle foiled Far Eastern University, 75-65, for its third straight win in the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball tournament on Thursday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Baltazar and Lojera formed a potent combo in the fourth quarter, unleashing a blistering 13-2 run to put away the match with a 12-point lead, 75-63, in the final minute.

Baltazar was nearly unstoppable with 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting and 11 rebounds, two steals, one block and an assist to keep the Green Archers unbeaten in three games ahead of their rivalry match against fellow leaders, the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Saturday.

“As I told the boys, I’ve been talking about that this game is for positioning for us. This will lead us to a good position. (Today), we were able to do it on both ends,” said La Salle coach Derrick Pumaren. “There are more executions on offense and Balti came out and Kurt gave us a big lift. Today, he was the Balti we all expected.”

Mark Nonoy also sustained his fine play, scoring 12 of his 17 points in the first half as he shot 5-of-8 from deep to go with two rebounds, two assists and a block.

Lojera finished with 10 points, while Schonny Winston and CJ Austria added nine markers apiece to send FEU to its second straight defeat.

The Green Archers’ airtight defense kept the Tamaraws scoreless in the last 3:42 of the third quarter to score nine unanswered points for a 58-50 lead heading to the final period.

Michael Phillips anchored La Salle’s defense with 16 rebounds on top of six points, three assists, one steal and a block and held FEU’s center Emman Ojuola to just two points in the second half.

L-Jay Gonzales led the Tamaraws with 17 points including three three-pointers and had four steals, four rebounds and three assists. Emman Ojuola put up 13 points and 12 boards.

RJ Abarrientos, FEU’s top scorer in the past two games, struggled with nine points on 1-of-7 shooting as his team fell to 1-2 before facing National University on Saturday.

The Scores

LA SALLE 75 — Baltazar 20, Nonoy 17, Lojera 10, Winston 9, Austria 9, M. Phillips 6, Nelle 4, Manuel 0, Nwankwo 0, B. Phillips 0.
FEU 65 — Gonzales 17, Ojuola 13, Abarrientos 9, Bienes 9, Sajonia 6, Torres 5, Sandagon 4, Li 2, Alforque 0, Sleat 0, Gravera 0, Coquia 0.
Quarters: 19-18, 32-32, 58-50, 75-65.