By MARK REY MONTEJO
Romel Calahat and Rafael Are led a furious San Sebastian’s onslaught en route to a vengeful 94-75 win over an undermanned Letran in the NCAA Season 99 men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City on Wednesday, Nov. 8.
Calahat and Are combined for 44 points – most them in the second and third frames that enabled the Stags to pull away for good and avenged their 86-71 defeat to the fallen champions in the first round.
The Stags practically put their lead beyond the Knights’ reach at 88-59 that saw the supporters of the Intramuros-based squad scratching their heads again in disappointment for another lackluster performance.
Meantime, the win – their fifth in 14 games – revived the Stags’ bid for at least a playoff for a Final Four berth in the 10-team, double-round elims.
“Yun ang game plan namin, sumunod lang ako sa system ni coach,” said Are, who buried three booming treys to highlight a 23-point performance.
He also had six assists, four rebounds and a steal in impressive stats while Calahat backstopped him with 21 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals for their bounce back victory following a 70-63 defeat to Mapua, 70-63, last Sunday.
Protecting a slim 25-22 lead in the first 10 minutes of play, the Stags, starring Are and Calahat made several offensive spurts to establish a 44-27 lead late in the second half.
But the Knights managed to make some counter attacks through the efforts of Kobe Monje and Jay Garupil to close in at 51-38.
That was when Calahat and Alex Desoyo stepped on the gas once again and zoomed to a commanding lead.
Desoyo fired four triples for his 13 points, while Reggz Gabat and Tristan Felebrico had 13 and 10 points, respectively.
For the second straight game, the Knights sorely missed the absence of skipper Kurt Reyson while guard Nicko Fajardo also got injured early in this game.
The scores:
First Game
SSC-R 94- Are 23, Calahat 21, Desoyo 13, Re. Gabat 13, Felebrico 10, Escobido 7, Una 6, Sumoda 1, Shanoda 0, Chuidian 0, Velasco 0, Singson 0
Letran 75- Garupil 16, Monje 13, Go 13, Cuajao 8, Javillonar 8, Ariar 6, Bautista 4, Fajardo 3, Bojorcelo 2, Batallier 2, Nunag 0, Jumao-as 0, Brilliantes 0, Santos 0
Quarters: 25-22; 51-38; 70-50; 94-75.
