Reigning champion Philippine National Police (PNP) lost to Government Services and Insurance System (GSIS), 76-68, but still clinched the last berth to the second round in Group A while Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency also got a free ride in Group B of the 6th UNTV Cup held over the weekend at the Olivarez Sports Center in Paranaque.
The PNP Responders finished tied for fourth to fifth places with Bureau of Fire Protection with similar 3-3 cards but took the last berth due to the winner over the other rule.
PNP will join Senate, two-time champion Armed Forces of the Philippines and GSIS to the next round.
Getting 21 points from Leslie Cabayao and 14 from former Letran star Boyet Bautista, the AFP Cavaliers closed their first round campaign with a 92-71 drubbing of the Department of Health Achievers to finish second behind Senate in their group.
Both teams have similar 5-1 cards but the Senate Defenders took the top spot after applying the winner over the other rule in the tournament organized by UNTV president and CEO Daniel Razon.
The PDEA Drug Busters, on the other hand, secured the last berth from their group ā thanks to the Department of Justice Boosters who waylaid the Ombudsman Graft Busters, 95-73.
PDEA, Department of Agriculture and DOJ wound up with similar 2-4 marks but it was PDEA which joined two-time champion Judiciary, Malacanang-Philippine Sports Commission and National Housing Authority in the next round of the event for public servants.
In the second round, teams from Group A clash with Group B squads carrying their win-loss records with the top 2 teams after a single round earning outright semis berth.