UAAP Juniors Recap: DLSZ stuns FEU with comeback win, Ateneo prevails

By Anton Roxas Posted Jul 6th 2013

Aljun Melecio knocked down three straight triples late in the fourth quarter to spark a 9-0 run that led to a 61-59 come-from-behind victory for De La Salle-Zobel as they kept defending champion Far Eastern University winless in the Juniors basketball tournament of UAAP Season 76 on Saturday, July 06, 2013 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Before Melecio waxed hot, the Baby Tamaraws held an 8-point lead with less than two minutes to go in regulation. What followed was a pivotal run by the Junior Archers sparked by Melecio who fired in a third straight triple while pulling up from the left wing after a crossover dribble to put the Junior Archers up, 59-58, with 25.1 seconds left.

On the other end, J.J. Domingo successfully drew a foul while driving hard to the basket. However, he was only able to knock down one out of two free-throws to tie the game up at 59. Coming off a timeout, DLSZ Head Coach Boris Aldeguer set up a play for Karl Maldinger who was fouled close to the basket. The burly center sank both his charities to give the Alabang-based squad a 61-59 lead with 7.3 seconds to play.

For their last offensive salvo, FEU gave the ball to Domingo, who drove coast to coast into the defense of DLSZ and was blocked by Maldinger.

Renzo Subido led the Junior Archers with a game-high 20 points while Melecio finished with 19 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals.

 Domingo and Wendell Comboy each had 13 points for the Baby Tamaraws.

DLSZ improved to 2-0 while FEU remained winless at 0-2.

In the first game, Ateneo de Manila University defeated the University of the East 71-64. The Blue Eaglets improved their record to 1-1 as UE suffered their first defeat of the season after winning over UPIS.

The UAAP Season 76 Juniors basketball tournament resumes on Wednesday, July 10, 2013 at the Araneta Coliseum as the University of the Philippine Integrated School (0-1) battles National University (1-0) at 8:00 A.M.. Also, Adamson University (0-1) is set to square off against the University of Sto. Tomas (1-0) in the second game at 10:00 a.m.

Box scores:

First game:

ADMU 71 – Ravena 16, Nieto Mi. 13, Nieto Ma. 11, Escaler 11, Mendoza 8, Black 6, Magpoc 3, Calilung 3, Salandanan 0, Reigo De Dios 0, Ramos 0, Mendoza 0, Mamuyac 0, Joson L. 0, Joson G. 0, Jose 0.

UE 64 – Marata 20, Caduyac 12, Antonio 6, Altamirano 6, Guttierez 5, Del Rosiario 5, Briones 4, Mohamad 3, Ceralde 3, Contorno 0.

Quarter scoring: 20-13, 37-30, 54-49, 71-64.

Second game:

DLSZ 61 – Subido 20, Melecio 19, Sajulga 9, Banzon 7, Romero 2, Maldinger 2, Castro 2, Quintos 0, Paraiso 0, Isaac 0, Cabarrus 0, Abanilla 0.

FEU 59 – Domingo JJ. 13, Comboy 13, Lee 12, Escoto 7, Domingo JS. 7, Completo 7, Tabudlo 0, Runbaoa 0, Lumba 0, Cano 0, Beines 0, Aquino 0.

Quarter scoring: 13-9, 25-26, 42-46, 61-59.