TIP, NU round out NCC Elite 8
National University center Alfred Aroga during the Bulldogs’ game against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 78 men’s basketball tournament. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
TANAUAN CITY—Technological Institute of the Philippines and National University reached the Elite Eight of the National Collegiate Championship (NCC) with contrasting victories Sunday at First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities Gym here.
The TIP Engineers dazzled Lyceum Northwestern U with its vaunted fastbreak assault to prevail, 86-67, while the Bulldogs completed the Elite Eight cast with a hard-earned 69-57 win over the Olivarez College Sea Lions.
Jorey Napoles banged in 12 points and had eight rebounds while Nino Ibanes and Terrence Tumalip added 10 points for the Engineers, who will take on the University of Visayas Lancers at the start of the Elite Eight today.
“This is the culmination of a three-year program that we intend to accomplish,” said TIP coach Putit De Vera. “To be in the Elite Eight is already an accomplishment.”
Jay-J Alejandro pumped in 20 points, Tzaddy Rangel contributed 14 and Alfred Aroga had 11 points and 20 rebounds as the Bulldogs survived the smothering full-court pressure of the Sea Lions in the closing minutes.
Rangel scored five straight points and Aroga made four consecutive free throws in a decisive NU charge late in the game that stopped the rampaging Sea Lions, the Southern Luzon-Bicol champions, for good.
The Bulldogs will tangle with Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (Cesafi) champion University of San Carlos Warriors after the UV-TIP tussle.
Sweeping their group in the Luzon-Metro Manila Qualifying Games, the Engineers reached both the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight for the first time in the national championship.
Rodcell Yanga and Roxar Melendrez pulled the Dagupan City-based Lyceum Dukes, the Northern-Central Luzon champions, within a single digit after falling behind by as many as 17 points early in the fourth.
But Kimley Medina and Napoles immediately restored order for the Engineers, who had 31 fastbreak points, to quell the uprising.
The winner between the Engineers and the Lancers will face the defending champion San Beda Red Lions while the survivor of the NU-USC match meets UAAP runner-up University of Santo Tomas on Tuesday.
The Lions and the UST Growling Tigers automatically earned spots in the Elite Eight while UAAP champion FEU and the NCAA champion Letran Knights are seeded in the Final Four.
The scores:
First Game
TIP 86—Napoles 12, Ibanes 10, Tumalip 10, Namocatcat 9, Akrupu 8, Okoronkwo 7, Roldan 6, Medina 6, Gadon 5, Alcober 4, Alvarado 4, Benavides 3, Santos 2, Lara 0, Barranco 0.
LNU 67—Melendrez 17, Quisay 14, Yanga 10, Catabay 6, Ordona 6, Ayad 5, Aquino 5, Suratos 4, Ramos 0, Roxas 0, Alipio 0, Bona 0.
Quarters: 20-16, 42-30, 67-52, 86-67
Second Game
NU 69—Alejandro 20, Rangel 14, Aroga 11, Morido 8, Salim 6, Yu 5, Lastimosa 3, De Castro 2, Diputado 0, Abatayo 0, Tansiangco 0.
OC 57—Bermudes 17, Begaso 10, Bustos 10, Saguiguit 9, Geronimo 5, Navarro 4, Solis 2, Singh 0, Tomilloso 0, Sala 0.
Quarters: 18-17, 35-29, 51-40, 69-57
