BY CHRISTINE MONCADA

WITH RJ Jazul providing the needed firepower anew, Letran handed Philippine Christian University its fourth straight defeat via a 73-62 decision yesterday and assumed the solo lead in the 84th NCAA men's basketball tournament at the Astrodome.

For the second straight game, the veteran Jazul starred for the Knights, last year's losing finalists, finishing with 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field and leading the Knights to their third straight win, a full game ahead of erstwhile co-leader San Beda College, the defending champion.

Last Friday, Jazul scored 37 points, grabbed eight rebounds, dished out five assists and had three steals as Letran dealt College of St. Benilde an 88-75 whipping.

Dino Daa, although hardly recovered from an ankle injury that sidelined him several days back, backed up Jazul with 11 points and seven rebounds.

"We came ready for (PCU's) aggressive plays and the street smarts of their big man (Beau) Belga," said Letran coach Louie Alas. "Malaking sacrifice ang ginawa ng mga big man ko defending against Belga but it paid off. They were able to contain him and it led to this victory."

Belga, playing in his fifth and final year for PCU, was held to seven points as the Dolphins absorbed their fourth straight defeat and remained the only winless team in the eight-team field.

The Dolphins struggled to find their form in the second half while the Knights practically scored at will to erect a 51-37 spread on a basket by Alvyn Cabonce with 1:19 left in the third.

Despite this, PCU battled back and closed in at 57-49 with 5:19 left in the payoff round after Rogelio Busa drilled back-to-back treys. Busa paced PCU with 15 points but he could only do so much in the face of the Knights' tough stand.

In the other seniors' game, Mapua solidified its hold on the solo third spot by trouncing College of St. Benilde 63-57.

Jason Pascual scored only two points, an undergoal stab in the final 27 seconds, but it proved to be that the Cardinals needed to put away the Blazers and post their fourth straight win after an opening-day defeat.

Pascual also notched four rebounds and four assists in 20 minutes of action. Allan Mangahas led all Mapua scorers with 17 points along with seven rebounds, three assists and a steal. TG Guillermo contributed 14 points and a pair of boards

"We built enough cushion going into the crucial stretch and I told the boys to use time wisely," said Mapua coach Leo Isaac, whose charges will take a 10-day rest.

The Cardinals were protecting a 13-point advantage when the Blazers mounted a rally, closing in at 57-61 with 51.7 ticks left.