THE Arellano University Baby Chiefs needed one big run in the final period to escape with an 84-70 triumph over the Olivarez College Sea Lion Cubs yesterday to earn an outright finals seat in the junior division of the 16th National Capital Region Athletic Association basketball tournament at the Arellano University Gym.

Kim Pagayunan took charge during the Baby Chiefs? decisive breakaway and helped send the Legarda-based dribblers to their sixth straight triumph at the end of their elimination-round campaign.

The Baby Chiefs are now in the best-of-three finals for the third straight year in this scholastic cagefest sponsored by Mikasa and Molten Balls, and www.philspike.com.

The champs shrugged off errors that slowed them down in the first three quarters before leaning heavily on Pagayunan, who hit 11 of his 33 game-high points in the first seven minutes of the fourth canto. His heroics widened the Baby Chiefs? 58-54 advantage at the end of the third period to 12 at 76-64 with 3:16 to go. ?Nagkumpiyansa sa first three quarters. Doon na lang nag-init sa fourth at talagang nakalayo,? said Baby Chiefs coach Cresenciano Ablan Jr.

The Baby Chiefs? biggest concern are the Rizal Technological University Baby Thunders, who are in second spot at 3-2 and have emerged as the biggest threat to the champs? three-peat bid in the high school division.

Jerben Sagmit and Erwin Catapang banged in 17 and 15 points, respectively, for the Baby Chiefs. Peter Atencio