TIP books playoff spot
Technological Institute of the Philipines (TIP) grabbed a top two finish in Group B following a 105-95 win over Alberei in the Philippine Basketball Association D-League Foundation Cup yesterday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Papa Ndiaye made a comeback, delivering 37 points, 18 rebounds and four assists in his first game since suffering a hamstring injury.
His efforts were enough as TIP locked up a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals with its 5-1 slate.
Bryan Santos clinched a double-double performance with 28 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, and two steals while Ximone Sandagon tallied 12 points and four rebounds.
The win, however, left a bad taste on coach Potit de Vera’s mouth as TIP saw its 18-point fourth quarter lead, 92-74, drop down to as low as six, 101-95, with 37 seconds left.
“I’m not happy with today’s ball game,” he said.
“I don’t want to go to the playoffs with the thinking that our players are good enough.”
The Engineers only got relief with Sandagon’s putback dunk and Ndiaye’s late layup that iced the game for good.
“We always have to go all out and I just want to keep on doing that,” said de Vera, obviously disappointed with how his crew wasted their 37-point third quarter that flipped a 49-44 halftime lead to a commanding 86-71 edge.
Jonathan Parreno and Jomari Lacastesantos poured 20 points apiece for the hard-luck Kings, who remain winless in four outings.