MANILA – Colegio de San Juan de Letran ended the first round of NCAA Season 100 men's basketball tournament with a win after thumping Lyceum of the Philippines University, 78-66, on Saturday at the EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

The Knights now have a 6-3 slate, while the Pirates fell to a 4-5 record.

"Sabi ko sa mga bata kanina sa halftime, kailangan natin ng momentum, multiple stops into a basket," coach Allen Ricardo said during the postgame interview.

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Only leading by two with around three minutes left in the third frame, 48-46, the Knights unleashed a 9-1 run, capped by a Kobe Monje easy basket off a good pass from Charles Delfino, to enter the last canto with a double-digit 57-47 separation.

The Pirates managed to cut down that lead Letran lead to six halfway through the fourth quarter, 66-60, but Jimboy Estrada's baseline jumper and Nat Montecillo's triple from the corner allowed the Knights to pull away once more in the ballgame.

Ricardo although wanted to remind his wards not to be complacent after clinching six victories, but they will take this "small win."

"Ngayon 6-3 tayo, that's nothing. But for the meantime, we'd celebrate this small win, siyempre ang laking kumpiyansa nito, six wins is six wins—but 'yon, malayo pa," he said.

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Estrada concluded the match with a 19-5-7 stat line, while Kevin Santos delivered a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds.

John Barba led the defeated Lyceum side with a game-high 24 points and seven rebounds, while Renz Villegas added 14 markers.

The scores:

LETRAN 78 - Estrada 19, Santos 17, Monje 11, Montecillo 9, Javillonar 9, Miller 8, Nunag 3, Cuajao 2, Delfino 0, Jumao-As 0, Baliling 0

LYCEUM 66 - Barba 24, Villegas 14, Daileg 9, Montaño 6, Moralejo 4, Paulo 3, Aviles 2, Peñafiel 2, Panelo 2, Cunanan 0, Gordon 0, Pallingayan 0, Caduyac 0

Quarter scores: 22-18, 42-38, 57-47, 78-66