TIP trips Feati, gains playoff vs LCC five

MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion Technological Institute of the Philippines held off Feati, 67-63, yesterday to forge a duel with La Consolacion College-Manila for the last finals berth in the fourth Interscholastic Athletic Association at Lyceum gym in Intramuros.

Former PBA D-League cager Jemuel Namocatcat scored 19 points, Sean Paulo had 10 markers while Kim Medina scored six of his eight points in the payoff period as the Engineers survived the Seahawks to reach the final stage of the stepladder phase.

LCCM and TIP meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum with the former enjoying a twice-to-beat advantage. Both teams met in last year’s finals series with the Engineers winning via sweep.

Newcomer Philippine Merchant Marine School clinched the first finals berth after topping classification round with a perfect 6-0 slate.

TIP posted a 33-32 edge at the half before Namocatcat and Paulo took over in the third quarter, powering the Engineers to a 52-38 lead.

But Feati rallied in the fourth and threatened to within three points thrice. But turnovers and missed free throws in the final three minutes hastened the Seahawks’ downfall

AJ Santos scored 20 points for Feati.