Romel Calahat and Rafael Are sparked San Sebastian’s second half surge to earn a 94-75 win over defending champion 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, spearheading a third quarter rally for a 68-46 spread going to the final frame which the Golden Stags mightily preserved for their fifth win in 14 games.

Are listed his season high of 23 points and added four rebounds and six assists while Calahat backstopped him with 21 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals as San Sebastian bounced back from a 70-63 loss to Mapua last Sunday, Nov. 5.

The Golden Stags sprung to life after triggering a 22-5 run that put them ahead 44-27 in the second frame.

But the reigning NCAA kings managed to fight back led by Kobe Monje and Jay Garupil, trimming the gap to just 13, 38-51, before halftime.

That was when Calahat, Are and Alex Desoyo stepped on the gas for the Golden Stags and left the Knights in the dust.

Desoyo fired four triples for his 13 points, while Reggz Gabat and Tristan Felebrico had 13 and 10 points, respectively.

Garupil ended up with an all-around effort of 16 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals while Monje and Go had 13 points each.

The undermanned Knights, who are already out of the Final Four race, absorbed their sixth straight loss for a 1-13 record. Kurt Reyson and Niel Guarino missed the game as they are nursing respective injuries.

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

Quarterscores: 25-22; 51-38; 70-50; 94-75