Hot Engineers gain in Elite 8

TANAUAN CITY, Batangas, Philippines – Technological Institute of the Philippines continued to dish out top form as it edged Viz-Min Qualifying winner University of Visayas Lancers, 59-53, yesterday to stay in the title hunt in the National Collegiate Championship at the Faith Gym here.

Shewster Olago, meanwhile, hit a jumper as time expired, lifting University of San Carlos to a thrilling 73-72 victory over National U in the other Elite Eight match. The USC cagers will next meet the UST Tigers for a spot in the semis against seeded team Far Eastern U.

Jorey Napoles put in another double-double job of 13 points and 15 rebounds while Nino Ibanes and Terrence Tumalip chipped in 11 and 10 markers, respectively, for the Engineers, who bucked the odds and hurdled their three games in the Qualifying stages of the annual tournament featuring the country’s top colleges and universities.

Hardly given a chance to reach this far, TIP tripped Mapua and St. Clare to top the Metro Manila Luzon elims then routed North Luzon winner Lyceum Northwestern U, 86-67, last Sunday to barge into the Elite Eight.

“It’s our faith in each other that’s keeping us where we are right now,” said TIP coach Potit de Vera.

The win thus set the Engineers to another do-or-die game, this time against defending champion and NCAA runner-up San Beda at 2 p.m. at The Arena in San Juan City today.

“It’s going to be a battle,” said Napoles.

The winner of the TIP-San Beda showdown will advance to the semis where it will meet with reigning NCAA champion Letran. The winner will advance to the winner-take-all finals on Dec. 17.