Baltazar flaunts might

JUSTINE Baltazar makes heads turn following a 20-20 performance for La Salle.

Not that many players can consistently post double-doubles and even less can come away with 20-20 games.

Justine Baltazar easily accomplished the feat as he dominated his way to a 25-point, 25-rebound performance during De La Salle University’s impressive win over National University (NU) in Season 82 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament last Sunday.

The 6-foot-7 center already had 15 points and 14 rebounds at halftime before doubling down on his effort and, in the end, the Bulldogs had nothing left to stop him.

Standing in elite company of players who have recorded a 25-25 game, Baltazar was the hands down winner for the latest Chooks-to-Go Collegiate Press Corps UAAP Player of the Week award.

A workhorse inside the paint, the fourth-year big man collected 10 of his huge rebounding output from the offensive side while also swatting two shots in 33 minutes of action.

His exploits deserved sweet praise from La Salle head coach Gian Nazario.

“When was the last time a local had a 25 and 25 in the UAAP? I mean, again, that’s the result of his hardwork during practices. He really works hard. He takes care of his body and it shows in the game,” Nazario said.

Even better, Baltazar’s explosion came just at the right time as the Green Archers try to rally for more wins in the second round.

“I’m just glad I had a good game. I just wanted to bounce back from our last game,” he said after only finishing with four points in the team’s 92-77 triumph over University of Santo Tomas a week ago.

Baltazar grabbed the weekly citation given by print and online media covering the league away from the likes of Ken Tuffin of Far Eastern University, Thirdy Ravena of Ateneo, and Senegalese Alex Diakhite of University of the East.