The Colegio de San Juan de Letran waxed hot from the get-go en route to dispatching Arellano University, 96-67, to remain undefeated in the NCAA Season 97 men's basketball tournament on Wednesday at the La Salle Green Hills Gym.
Letran now leads all teams in the standings with a clean 2-0 slate while Arellano dropped to an even 1-1 card.
Jeo Ambohot unleashed a career-high 20 points to go along with eight rebounds and three assists while Tommy Olivario finished with 15 markers and seven dimes.
Rhenz Abando had another strong game with 11 points and seven boards while Louis Sangalang racked up a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Letran as a team shot 41-of-71 (57-percent) from the field with Ambohot and Olivario both making 75-percent of their attempts.
The Knights leaned on an early barrage with Sangalang and King Caralipio punishing the Chiefs as the former gave the Muralla-based team a 16-point spread with 3:36 left in the second, 35-19.
The Chiefs, who were playing sans injured big man Justin Arana, were only able to trim their deficit to just 15 at the half, 41-26.
Letran never looked back since then, even pushing their lead to 18 in the third period after an Ambohot basket, 46-28. But although the lead stayed for good with Letran, the Chiefs put up some fight as they managed to close in by 11, 55-44.
The penultimate frame ended with Letran still at the fore, 66-51, after a buzzer-beater from Olivario.
Letran opened the payoff period with four triples, two of which came from Abando, for an 80-56 cushion as Letran proved to be too much for the undermanned Arellano.
Letran's biggest lead was a 94-62 upper hand late in the fourth.
In their previous game, the Knights had to buck a slow start before escaping the CSB Blazers with a 67-63 come-from-behind victory on Saturday.
The scores:
Letran 96 — Ambohot 20, Olivario 15, Abando 11, Sangalang 10, Caralipio 9. Reyson 6, Javillonar 6. Mina 5, Paraiso 4, Lantaya 4, Fajarito 3, Guarino 3, Yu 0, Tolentino 0.
Arellano 67 — Doromal 11, Carandang 11, Sablan 9, Caballero 7, Cruz 7, Valencia 6, Oliva 4, Steinl 4, Abastillas 3, Sta. Ana 3, Talampas 2, Uri 0, Dela Cruz 0, Concepcion 0.
Quarters: 20-17, 41-26, 66-51.
—JMB, GMA News
