Knights shine, climb to third

MANILA, Philippines — Letran used Jimboy Estrada and Kevin Santos as battering rams as it flattened Lyceum U, 78-66, yesterday to jump to third spot in NCAA Season 100 at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

Estrada had 19 points, seven assists and five rebounds while Santos wreaked havoc inside the paint with 17 points, 11 boards and three blocks as the Knights ended their first-round campaign with a 6-3 record.

“I’m happy with the performance, medyo nagpi-peak na sila,” said Letran coach Allen Ricardo.

He was specifically proud of Santos’ transformation from a temperamental banger to a sound, reliable contributor on both ends of the floor.

“I told him (Santos) to, ‘just be patient, your time will come, sumunod ka lang sa ginagawa at kailangan maintindihan mo ang ginagawa natin,’” said Ricardo. “So far, he’s been doing it.”

Earlier, San Beda survived University of Perpetual Help’s furious fight back and escaped with a 63-62 cliffhanger that kept them inside the Magic Four with a 5-3 slate.

Jomel Puno led the way with 16 points, including two free throws with less than three minutes to go that served as the Lions’ final cushion to preserve the triumph.

But they nearly blew this one out.

Up by 11 points with a minute gone by in the final period, San Beda got into a scoring funk as UPHSD came charging back to cut it to just a point, 63-62, courtesy of a triple by Cedrick Abis with less than two minutes left.