The San Sebastian Stags took charge early and coasted to an 80-60 swamping of the University of Perpetual Help Altas early Thursday evening at the Arena in San Juan.
Regille Ilagan made 23 points for the Stags, who earned a playoff slot for the stepladders semifinals berth in the 93rd National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament.
Coach Egay Macaraya said the team’s hard work is now paying off, now that they finished the elimination round sharing a 9-9 win-loss record with Letran Knights and the Arellano University Chiefs.
They will now wait for the outcome of the game between the Chiefs and Knights at 3:30 p.m. today (Friday) to determine their opponent in the second playoff match on Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“Tambay na muna kami. Waiting na kami kung sino kalaban sa Tuesday,” said Macaraya.
The Stags took their time to move ahead in the first period, taking an 11-6 edge off baskets from Ilagan and JM Calma.
Michael Calisaan had 21 points and 10 rebounds, with his inside play in the last 2:27 putting the Stags ahead by nine, 17-8.
Ilagan’s back-to-back baskets in the last 2:19 included a triple, and it came during a 9-0 blast in the second period.
From there, the Stags went on to grab a 40-28 halftime spread.
Genmar Ylagan made a game-high 16 points for the Altas.