TIP five pips Lancers; Bulldogs miss Last 6

TANAUAN CITY—With no championship pedigree to show in the big leagues, Technological Institute of the Philippines is now trying to carve out a niche in the National Collegiate Championship.

The tireless Engineers played their fourth game in five days and stunned the highly rated University of Visayas Lancers, 59-53, in the Elite Eight of the tournament yesterday, moving closer to their dream Cinderella finish against the giants of college hoops.

In the other game, Shooster Olago buried a 19-footer that caromed high off the rim before going in with 1.7 seconds left as the University of San Carlos Warriors escaped with a 73-72 cliffhanger over the National U Bulldogs.

Terrence Tumalip knocked in a long three-pointer with 34.8 seconds remaining and sank enough free throws like Nino Ibañes to power the Engineers past the Lancers at First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities Gym.

For the third straight match since TIP swept its group in the Luzon-Metro Manila Qualifying Games, it was again the energetic forward Jorey Napoles who bailed the team out.

“I was lucky to hit those crucial shots,” said the 6-foot-4 Napoles in Filipino after swishing three consecutive long jumpers midway in the fourth that shifted the momentum for TIP.

The Engineers will need more than just intensity and hard work against defending national champion San Beda today when action shifts to Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Olago won his matchup with NU’s Alfred Aroga and finished with 22 points, seven rebounds and four blocks as the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) champion Warriors also gained the next round to face UAAP runner-up University of Santo Tomas.

NU coach Eric Altamirano mapped out a last-ditch effort to save the Bulldogs from imminent defeat but the play intended for Aroga landed in the hands of Jay-J Alejandro, whose desperation try from way out hit nothing.

“Basketball is a battle of skill and will,” said TIP coach Putit De Vera. “We hope to show these qualities again when we play San Beda.”

The Engineers need to win all its seven games in eight days to bag the title. A victory over the Red Lions will set up a Final Four clash with NCAA champion Letran.

Jun Manzo had 19 points, Alfred Codilla added 12 and Cameroonian import Steve Akomo had five points, 14 rebounds and eight blocks for the Cesafi runner-up Lancers.

The scores:

First Game

TIP 59—Napoles 13, Ibanes 11, Tumalip 10, Benavides 8, Namocatcat 5, Akrupu 5, Okoronkwo 3, Roldan 2, Alcober 2, Lara 0, Alvarado 0.

UV 53—Manzo 19, Codilla 12, Santillan 9, Arong 6, Akomo 5, Suerte 2, Soliva 0, Segumpan 0, Cabanero 0, Napao 0, Aguirre 0.

Quarters: 15-17, 31-30, 40-45, 59-53

Second Game

USC 73—Olago 22, Pepito 16, Tagapan 8, Ortega 5, Magat 5, Toyambi 5, McAloney 5, Maconocido 4, Lim 3, Laguyo 0, Rabat 0.

NU 72—Alejandro 19, Aroga 16, Salim 9, Diputado 8, Morido 6, Cinco 6, Rangel 4, Yu 3, Abatayo 1, Pate 0, Aquino 0.

Quarters: 25-20, 33-29, 47-all, 73-72