Engineers won’t kneel before Kings

Games on Thursday (JCSGO Gym, Cubao)

1:30 p.m. – CEU vs iWalk

3:30 p.m. – Italiano’s Homme vs Black Mamba

MANILA, Philippines — Technological Institute of the Philippines dodged the upset ax against winless Alberei and escaped with a 105-95 win to secure a twice-to-beat playoff bonus in the PBA Developmental League Foundation Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Coming from a hamstring injury that kept him out in their last game, Senegalese center Papa N’Diaye had a roaring return for the Engineers as he dropped 37 points on an efficient 16-of-18 clip to go with 18 rebounds and four assists in just 22 minutes of play.

Local big man Bryan Santos came up with a 28-11 effort of his own to provide key support for N’Diaye as TIP wrapped up its group phase play with a 5-1 card to finish in the top two of Group B and earn a twice-to-beat quarterfinal incentive.

Despite the win, head coach Potit de Vera was not totally happy with his wards who nearly lost a huge 18-point lead.

“I’m not happy with today’s ball game. I don’t want to go to the playoffs with my players thinking that we’re good enough. I don’t want them to be arrogant. I want them to be confident, but not arrogant, heading into the playoffs,” he said.

Buoyed by the return of N’Diaye, the Engineers dominated Alberei for the most part of the game and lead comfortably late in the third, 92-74.

But TIP relaxed and paved the way for the Kings’ 18-4 fourth-quarter rally capped by a Jomari Lacastesantos layup that cut the lead to 96-90 with 3:06 to go.

Fortunately, the Engineers regrouped to douse cold water on Alberei’s scorching rally with a Ximone Ace Sandagon dunk in the last 32.2 seconds giving them a 103-95 lead.

Lacastesantos and Jonathan Parreno tallied 20 each for the Kings, who remained winless in four matches.