Great Play or Mistake?

[MikeyEdge]

A friend of mine was in a $330 tournament at the Trump East Chicago, first orbit. Player A played two hands very poorly prior to the hand in question. Blinds are 25-50.

Friend is UTG with 8-8 and makes it 200 to go. All fold to Player A in the cutoff who calls. Flop comes 8-9-2. Friend checks, Player A moves all-in, Friend calls. Player A shows Q-J, then spikes the 10 on the turn and Friend is out in the fourth hand.

I told him he should have limped with the 8-8 from early position number one. I also think he made a mistake by not betting the flop and potentially giving a free card. Had Player A checked like he should have, he would have hit the 10 anyway. I think you have to call when Player A pushes all-in, but I think this hand could have been played way better. Thoughts?