The San Sebastian Staglets got a brief scare from the University of Perpetual Help Junior Altas in the third period.
But, with Romel Calahat stepping up for big man Damie Cuntapay, the Staglets put away the Junior Altas, 92-81, on Thursday evening at the Arena in San Juan.
Calahat, who showed the way with 23 points and 13 rebounds, made his presence felt and helped send the Staglets into the playoff stage of the 93rd National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) junior basketball tournament.
The Staglets were ahead, 41-32, at halftime when the Junior Altas rallied to within one, 50-51, behind Esvin Inliwan.
Inliwan, who had 20 points, connected with his triple, and rattled the Recoletos cagers in the last4:51.
Playing with a hip injury, Calahat came into the picture with teammates Ameer Aguilar and Jessie Sumoda in the remaining, touching off an 11-3 run with his drive.
When it was over the Staglets took a 66-55 spread at the end of the third.
Ameer Aguilar’s trey with 6:56 left, handed the Staglets their biggest lead, 73-60.
“May injury. Tinamaan iyung gilid niya sa practice. Pero pinalaro ko pa rin. Fighter yung bata,” said Staglets coach Melo Banua.
On the other hand, an off form Cuntapay managed to eke out 1 point and five rebounds.
The Staglets settled for a tie for third to fifth places with the Letran Squires and the La Salle Greenhills Greenies with their 11-7 records.
On Tuesday, the Staglets will clash with the Greenies in the first of a series of playoffs to determine the fourth-seeded team in the Final Four.