The Pelicans, who trailed 16-20 early in the second quarter, closed the first period with a 16-4 to take a 32-24 lead.
Randy Magpayo, who topscored for UA-P with 15 points, triggered a 12-0 blast midway in the third quarter with a breakaway dunk as the Pelicans padded their lead to 18 at 52-34.
Spitfire Marvin Yambao ably filled in the void vacated by last year’s MVP, VJ Santos, by scoring 10 of his 13 points in the second half.
TIP, the tourney’s inaugural champion, was led by Christopher Mangibin’s 22 markers.
Earlier, St. Jude College routed De La Salle-Araneta University Foundation, 70-55, behind Randy Baniega and Wilfredo dela Torre, who combined for 36 points.
In the curtain raiser, Trinity College rallied from 10-point deficit to beat host Central Colleges of the Philippines, 73-66.
In other games, Philippine Maritime Institute disposed of De Ocampo Memorial College, 73-67, while four-time champion Manuel Luis Quezon University trounced Metro Manila College, 58-51, and Las Piñas College nipped Philippine College of Criminology, 83-81.