LETRAN continued their stellar showing in the latter part of the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament after beating Perpetual Help, 77-73, in Game 1 of the semifinals at Araneta Coliseum on Tuesday.

Fresh off of beating Arellano twice in the quarterfinals, the Knights kept up their winning ways, snagging their fifth straight victory and inching closer to their return to the NCAA Finals for the first time since 2022.

Jimboy Estrada, though, knows that in order for that trip to the Finals to come to fruition, they would have to address numerous issues, including their carelessness of the rock.

“Para sa’kin, palaging may kulang kaya meron kami laging tinatrabaho sa practice. Laging may kulang. Kailangan namin bawasan yung turnovers, decision making at fouls namin,” he said after finishing with 15 points in the dub.

“Walang aalis ng bangka. Nagsimula kami ng magkasama kami, matatapos kami ng magkakasama,” he added.

Helping Estrada on the Letran offense was Titing Manalili, who also finished with 15 points that went along with eight assists, six steals and five rebounds. Chad Gammad waxed hot with 11 points while Kevin Santos finished just four points shy of a double-double with six markers and 10 boards.

Patrick Sleat scored 21 for the Altas while John Abis finished with 20 points and nine rebounds in a losing effort.

Letran looks to close out Perpetual on Friday in Game 2 of the semifinals at Mall of Asia Arena.

The scores:

LETRAN (77) – Manalili 15, Estrada 15, Gammad 11, Cuajao 9, Santos 6, Buensalida 6, Omega 6, Roque 5, Tapenio 2, Montecillo 2

PERPETUAL HELP (73) – Sleat 21, Abis 20, Boral 11, Gojo Cruz 10, Tulabut 3, Alcantara 3, Duremdes 2, Gelsano 2, Nuñez 1, Orgo 0, Casinilio 0, Maglupay 0

Quarter scores: 26-22, 50-36, 64-56, 77-73