La Salle slotman lives up to billing

Gilas Pilipinas cadet Justine Baltazar has proven his worth as one of the players to watch in the Philippine basketball scene after etching history in the ongoing 82ndUAAP men’s basketball tournament.

The 6-foot-7 La Salle center towered over the rest and imposed his will on National University with a monstrous double-double outing of 25 points and 25 rebounds.

It’s the first time in 11 years in the UAAP that a local player managed to breach the 20-20 mark in points and rebounds.

Baltazar ’s power inside helped the Archers drub the Bulldogs, 85-61, to crack the top four with a 4-4 record at the start of the second round and in return, earned the nod as Chooks-to-Go’s Collegiate Press Corps UAAP Player of the Week.

“When was the last time a local had a 25-25 in the UAAP? I mean, again, that’s the result of Balti’s work during practices,” said coach Gian Nazario as Baltazar was easily chosen over FEU’s Ken Tuffin, Ateneo’s Thirdy Ravena and UE’s Alex Diakhite for the weekly UAAP citation.

Santo Tomas’ Jervy Cruz did it twice in 2008, tallying a 26-22 and 28-20 lines while Ateneo’s Rabeh Al Hussaini also achieved it in the same season, hauling down 33 markers and 20 boards.

Baltazar was overwhelmed and the same time, paid gratitude to the La Salle staff for honing him to what he is now and what more could he be in coming years.

“I’m just giving my best to pay forward to my coaches who have put that big of a trust on me as one of the veterans here,” said Baltazar.