Protect this hand?

[Songwind]

*grunch*
I like the preflop call. 88 isn't a strong enough holding to 3-bet with, but if you hit your set in this large field you'll be in great shape.

Flop; You're right, you have a good hand, but vulnerable. Getting it heads up with Villain is good. If he has two big cards (AQ or some such) the odds are in your favor.

Turn: I like the bet. Since there are just two of you, I gotta think that villain raises with a 5 or a big pair. since he doesn't, I'm feeling pretty good about my hand.

River is a brick, so I would bet. Villain hasn't shown you any aggression since the flop.