The San Sebastian Stags leaned on their 1-2 punch to repulse the Arellano University Chiefs and stay in the hunt for a playoff seat in the 95th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.
RK Ilagan and Allyn Bulanadi chipped in 20 and 19 points, respectively, for the Stags, who posted their 10th win in 17 games at the FilOil-Flying V Sports Center in San Juan.
This put the Stags a victory closer to earning a playoff slot in the Final Four and the fourth seeding if the defending champion San Beda Red Lions complete an 18-game sweep and claim an automatic finals’ berth.
Ilagan and Bulanadi struck hard during a 13-3 blast that allowed the Stags to turn a two-point deficit, 65-67, into a 78-70 edge with less than two minutes remaining.
“‘Yung playoffs, medyo mahirap pa rin sa amin,” said Stags’ coach Egay Macaraya on their chances.
The Stags are ahead of the Mapua Cardinals (9-8), who stayed in the running for the last seat after they won over the University of Perpetual Help Altas, 85-81.
Warren Bonifacio knocked in 15 points for the Cardinals.
Laurenz Victoria, who had 14 points, scored four out of four charity attempts in the last three minutes to bail the Cards out of trouble.
In the junior division, Milo Janao drilled in 15 points as the Staglets prevailed over the Arellano Braves, 63-60, to move into a share of third with the Braves at 10-7.
This kept the Staglets in contention for a Final Four seat.