Knights tear Pirates apart; Squires win by 81

Letran kept its Final Four hopes alive with a 76-60 victory over an uninspired Lyceum side last night in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at San Juan Arena.

The Knights’ seventh win in 13 games moved them closer behind the teams in the upper crust of the standings while the Pirates stayed deep in the cellar with a 2-11 card.

In the second game, John Pinto hit a short-range jumper with 2.7 seconds left to lift Arellano to a 59-57 win over Mapua.

Kevin Alas, son of Knights coach Louie, proved again that he deserves the playing time he’s getting by pouring in 30 points on top of six rebounds, six assists and two steals in 39 minutes on the floor.

“I told him (Kevin) that as long as he’s not committing that much turnovers he will stay on the floor,” said the elder Alas.

Letran also drew inspired play from 6-foot-7 Raymond Almazan, who added 15 points, nine rebounds and three blocks.

The Pirates practically gave up the fight long before the final buzzer after coach Boni Tan, reportedly under the weather, left the game after only two quarters. Then later in the third period, John Azores was thrown out after a disqualifying foul.

Earlier, Rey Nambatac fashioned out a triple-double performance to power the Letran Squires to a 110-29 thrashing of the Lyceum Baby Juniors for their eighth win in 11 games.

The reigning MVP actually missed making a quadruple double after posting 22 points, 14 rebounds, 16 assists and eight steals.

The scores:

First Game

LETRAN 76—Ke Alas 30, Almazan 15, Cruz 10, Racal 9, Cortes 5, Lituania 2, Gabriel 2, Gabawan 2, Belorio 1, Luib 0.

LYCEUM 60—Zamora 16, Ko 14, Cayabyab 14, Edding 2, Martinez 2, Garcia 2, Mallari 2, Laude 2, Guevarra 2, Francisco 2, Azores 2, Ambohot 0, Alanes 0, Pascual 0.

Quarters: 17-10, 38-20, 59-36, 76-60