ALJUN Melecio finished with 17 points and eight rebounds as De La Salle-Zobel beat University of Santo Tomas, 78-52, on Saturday in the UAAP Season 78 juniors basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Melecio got support from Miguel Fortuna, who had 14 points on 4-of-9 shooting from three-point range, to give the Junior Archers their seventh win in nine outings and solidify their hold of second place.
La Salle-Zobel took a one-game lead over Ateneo, which beat University of the Philippines Integrated School, 75-67, earlier in the day.
With La Salle seniors head coach Aldin Ayo in attendance, the Junior Archers pulled away for good after a 23-9 third quarter run.
The Tiger Cubs slipped to a 3-6 win-loss slate.
Standings: NU 9-0, DLSZ 7-2, ADMU 6-3, FEU 5-4, AdU 5-4, UST 3-6, UPIS 1-8, UE 0-9