Engineers sweep ISAA basketball, volley crowns

MANILA, Philippines - Technological Institute of the Phils. stamped its class right in its first season in the Inter Scholastic Athletic Association (ISAA), winning the men’s basketball and women’s volleyball crown in smashing fashions.

The Engineers capped their domination of the basketball tournament by beating the La Consolacion College-Manila side, 2-1, in the best-of-three finals. They topped the double-round elims with nine straight wins before losing to La Consolacion to gain the twice-to-beat edge in the semis.

But TIP faced a tougher LCC-M side in the finals with the latter boasting of a 6-8 African import.

However, the Engineers, under coaches Bong Arroyo and Franco Ilagan, kept their composure and asserted their might to complete the title romp.

The win came on the heels of TIP’s string of runner-up finishes in various leagues, including the MNCAA, UCAA, NCRAA and the Fr. Martin Cup, further underscoring the school’s sound athletics program.

Not to be outdone, TIP’s volleybelles also emerged triumphant in a stint that also included nine straight wins against a lone loss in the double round elims before sweeping La Consolacion College-Manila in the finals.

Throughout the tournament’s third season, the TIP spikers, handled by coach Gerry Ceñidoza, displayed their vaunted attacking style to reign supreme to likewise end a number of second place finishes in the Viking Cup, the Ateneo Invitational, UCAA, and the NCRAA. 

The twin title romps also augured well for the school’s 50th anniversary celebrations in February next year.

Launched in Sept. 2009, the ISAA sports tournaments are participated annually by eight universities and college, including FEATI University, La Consolacion College Manila, Lyceum of the Philippines University-Manila, Manila Adventist Medical College, Manila Tytana College (formerly Manila Doctors College), Philippine Women’s University, St. Dominic College of Asia and TIP.