There are a lot of similarities between La Salle’s Justine Baltazar and University of the Philippines’ Carl Tamayo.
Both were products of the highly-regarded Nazareth School-National University basketball program, steering the school to a total of three UAAP High School Boys’ crowns with Tamayo winning two.
The 6-foot-8 Baltazar and 6-foot-7 Tamayo are also both former UAAP Finals MVPs with again the latter winning two.
Baltazar and Tamayo even had a chance to play with each other as the two were pivotal pieces in Tab Baldwin’s Gilas a year ago.
Even in the style of play, the two are very, very similar. Even the 25-year-old Baltazar acknowledges it.
“As a big man, sa NU rin siya nanggaling. So kung ano ginagawa niya, yun din ang ginagawa ko. Iba din kasi siya eh,” admitted Baltazar.
“Kung ano ginagawa ko – like may tira sa labas at may galaw din sa ilalim – same lang kami ng trabaho eh.”
And in their first-ever game against each other at the collegiate level, the two bulls clashed with no one giving an inch.
Baltazar tallied 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting with 10 rebounds, four assists, and a block. Meanwhile, Tamayo produced nine points on 4-of-14 shooting with 11 rebounds.
“Si Carl naman talaga, mula high school yan magaling talaga. May tira sa labas at laro sa loob,” continued Baltazar, a native of Pampanga.
“Magaling din sa post kaya china-challenge ko rin.”
Tight was the 40-minute affair between the Green Archers and the Fighting Maroons that resulted in a 61-59 heartbreaker.
But it was a heartbreaking result for La Salle. It led by seven points in the final frame, only to see it dwindle down and eventually get taken over.
The loss was particularly heavy for Baltazar since it dropped them to a 4-2 record – down to third.
Come the second round, the La Salle skipper can’t wait to get one back against Tamayo and the Fighting Maroons.
“Siguro, kung ano game plan ni coach sa second round, ibibigay namin yung best namin at dodoblehin namin ngayon sa practice namin.”
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