THE National University Bullpups took off to a strong start and sustained their fiery form all throughout to turn back the University of the Philippines Integrated School Junior Maroons, 77-65, yesterday in the 78th University Athletic Association of the Philippines’ Junior Basketball Tournament at the San Juan Arena,
Seldom-used John Beldua sparked NU’s strong start, firing all his eight points in the first period to tow the Bullpups to a 19-4 lead and coast to their fourth straight triumph and a firmer hold on the lead.
The Bullpups held the Junior Maroons to just 18 points in the second period as the solo-leading team went on to post a 40-22 halftime lead.
John Lloyd Clemente finished with 18 points and Justine Baltazar added 16 to lead NU.
The Ateneo Blue Eaglets and La Salle-Zobel share second on similar 3-1 cards.
In the other juniors’ matches, Jolo Mendoza, Bryan Andrade and Shaun Ildefonso scored in double digits, with Mendoza scoring with 20 for the Blue Eaglets, who turned back University of Santo Tomas, 79-56.
Shaun Ildefonso had 17 points, including three charities at the start of the third quarter that put the Blue Eaglets out of reach. Ateneo then padded the lead to nine, 39-30, in the last five minutes.
Aljun Melecio banged in 12 of 18 points in the first period for the Junior Archers, who took a 31-14 spread in the first 10 minutes en route to a 107-79 swamping of University of the East.