Games Thursday
(Pasig Sports Center)
2 p.m. – HoR vs Judiciary
3:30 p.m. – AFP vs Ombudsman
5 p.m. – PNP vs GSIS
Group A: Malacañang (5-0), BFP (3-2), AFP (2-2), Ombudsman (2-2), MMDA (2-3), Senate (0-5).
Group B: Customs (6-0), Judiciary (4-1), PNP (3-2), NHA (3-3), HoR (2-3), GSIS (1-4), DoJ (0-6).
Newcomer Bureau of Customs and Malacañang bested their rivals in contrasting fashions and swept their respective groups elims in the 5th UNTV Cup held over the weekend at the Pasig Sports Center.
With playing-coach Kenneth Duremdes, Marlou Aquino and Rizal Ignacio coming through with huge baskets, the BOC Transformers scored a come-from-behind 77-75 win over the National Housing Authority (NHA) Builders for their sixth win in as many outings in Group B elims.
The 6-foot-9 Aquino led the Transformers with 19 points while Ignacio and Duremdes chipped in 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Not to be outdone, the Malacañang Kamao completed a five-game sweep of Group A elims with a 72-55 drubbing of the MMDA Black Wolves in the tournament organized by UNTV president and CEO Daniel Razon.
Former University of Santo Tomas star Christian Luanzon led the team’s fiery start the saw the Kamao take a 31-15 lead before padding it to 44-24 at halftime break.
Luanzon was ably supported by John Michael Jimenez and Visnu Javier, who registered 12 and 10 points, respectively.
In the other Group B match, former champion Judiciary drew big games from Chester Tolomia and Don Camaso to beat Philippine National Police in overtime, 82-80.
Tolomia and Camaso fired 23 points each to lead the Magis to their fourth win in five games while handing the PNP Respondents their second loss in five starts.
Only the top four teams in each group will advance to the second round where their win-loss records will be carried over.