SAN BEDA College ended the fairy-tale run of Technological Institute of the Philippines while University of San Carlos foiled a potential rematch between UAAP title protagonists in the Final Four of the National Collegiate Championship.
The Red Lions lost a 20-point lead before pulling off a 79-77 escape against the Engineers yesterday at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
The Lions, already seeded in the tournament by virtue of its runner-up finish in the recent NCAA basketball wars, face their finals tormentor Letran Knights today in the round of four.
In the other game, Shooster Olago powered Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (Cesafi) champion USC to the next round with a solid 82-72 victory over University of Santo Tomas.
SAN Beda reinforcement Arnaud Noah lays it up off Niño Ibañes of TIP in yesterday’s game at Filoil Flying V Arena. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Throwing his weight around, the 6-foot-8 Cameroonian scored 10 of his team’s last 13 points as the Warriors forged a semifinal clash with UAAP champion Far Eastern U today.
“We only had two weeks to prepare for this event,” said USC coach Bong Abad. “We just pushed the pace and got the production we needed from Olago.”
Robert Bolick had 13 points, four rebounds and four blocks for the Lions, who saw their 49-29 lead vanish in the closing minutes.
The Engineers, working behind Jemuel Namocatcat, Terrence Tumalip, Joshua Alcober and Niño Ibañes, played their fifth game in a week but showed no trace of fatigue.
They held the Lions without a field goal in the last five minutes and seemed ready to grind an upset on Alcober’s jumper, 74-78.
The scores:
First Game
SBC 79—Bolick 13, Tankoua 13, Sara 12, Potts 11, Noah 11, Tongco 7, Mocon 4, Soberano 3, Oftana 3, Bonsubre 2, Presbitero 0, Carlos 0, Cabanag 0, Sedillo 0, Adamos 0.
TIP 77—Namocatcat 17, Napoles 15, Tumalip 10, Benavides 10, Alcober 8, Ibanes 6, Akrupu 5, Roldan 4, Gadon 2, Okoronkwo 0, Lara 0.
Quarters: 25-15, 49-29, 66-54, 79-77
Second Game
USC 82—Olago 19, McAloney 11, Pepito 10, Toyambi 10, Magat 7, Maconocido 7, Tagapan 6, Ortega 6, Laguyo 4, Rabat 2, Lim 0, Ecarma 0.
UST 72—Daquioag 17, Ferrer 16, Lao 16, Lee 9, Vigil 6, Garrido 6, Arana 0, Bonleon 0, Sheriff 0, Faundo 0, Huang 0.
Quarters: 18-all, 33-34, 57-51, 82-72