Engineers clinch semis seat

MANILA, Philippines - Rap Garcia and American student William Porter stepped up big time in the endgame to carry the Technological Institute of the Philippines Engineers to a 96-83 beating of the Colegio Sta. Monica Cougars yesterday in the 17th National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) men’s basketball tournament.

Their inside plays put a halt to the Cougars’ repeated rallies and helped hand the Engineers the first semifinal slot with their seventh triumph in eight games at their home turf at the TIP-Casal gymnasium in Quiapo, Manila.

Earlier, Imelda Paz hit 23 points for the Rizal Technological University Lady Thunder, who downed Emilio Aguinaldo College-Dasmariñas, 83-44, in the women’s action of this cagefest supported by Mikasa and Molten Balls.

Garcia, who is recovering from a cut left eyebrow in their match against the Olivarez College Sea Lions last week, made only five points, including a crucial drive off Andrew Arcadio’s assist with 1:43 left.