Games Sunday
(Pasig City Sports Center)
3 p.m. – Judiciary vs MMDA
5 p.m. – Customs vs AFP
7 p.m. – NHA vs BFP
Defending champion Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) kept their quarterfinal hopes alive with big wins over top two rivals in the 5th UNTV Cup held over the weekend at the Pasig City Sports Center.
Exploiting the absence of former PBA MVP Kenneth Duremdes, the BFP Firefighters leaned on a fiery start and a well-balanced attack to stun the erstwhile unbeaten Bureau of Customs Transformers, 95-89, and stay in the running for a berth in the next round.
Veteran Gilbert Malabanan led five BFP players in double figures with 21 points, including clutch baskets that helped scuttle Customs’ spirited comeback for their fifth win in 9 games.
More than improving their quarterfinal chances, the Firefighters earned the distinction as the first team to beat the powerhouse squad that played minus its heart and soul who begged from playing due to a previous commitment.
The AFP Cavaliers likewise improved to a 5-4 record with an 80-72 victory over Judiciary Magis who saw their six-game winning streak come to an end.
Despite their defeat, the Transformers remained on top, but the Magis slipped to a share for second to third places with the idle Philippine National Police Responders at 7-2 in the tournament offering P4 million to the chosen charity of the champion team.
Meantime, Malacañang ended a three-game skid by crushing National Housing Authority, 91-65, to formalize its entry into the next round.
The top two finishers after the round will advance outright to the semis while teams from No. 3 to No. 6 play a series in the quarters. The seventh and eighth teams will be eliminated.
Eric dela Cuesta and Von Javier led the Malacañang Kamao with 20 and 19 points, respectively, while the Cavaliers drew big games from Jeffrey Quiambao and Ronald Pascual with 18 and 17 points, respectively.