Games Today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)
7 p.m. – Senate vs Malacañang-PSC
(Senate leads series, 1-0)
The Senate Defenders hope to win their first-ever title in grand fashion as they go for a sweep when they battle the Malacañang-Philippine Sports Commission Kamao in today’s Game 2 of the UNTV Cup Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Bannered by former Chiang Kai Shek College player Gary Sevilla and ex-pro Jeff Sanders, the Defenders will come in their 7 p.m. showdown fully motivated to finish off the Kamao in their best-of-three title series.
Sevilla and Sanders starred in the team’s 77-62 drubbing of the Kamao in Game 1 of the event presented by UNTV through its president and CEO Daniel Razon.
Sevilla, who also played for College of St. Benilde during his NCAA days, led the Defenders with 15 points and four rebounds while Sanders added 13 points and five boards.
Aside from Sevilla and Sanders, coach Mike Fermin can also count on Sen. Joel Villanueva and James Mangaran who combined for 17 points and 12 boards.
“We need to play real tough defensively right from the start if we want to win it tomorrow. We can’t afford to give them a chance,” said Fermin.
Fermin credited their solid defense on Eric dela Cuesta and Christian Luanzon in the first half for their Game 1.
Though Luanzon went on to finish with 21 points – mostly in the second half – Dela Cuesta was held to just eight points and that made the difference.
Apart from earning P500,000, the Defenders’ chosen charity shall receive R4 million if they prevail today.
The runner-up’s chosen charity in the event designed for public servants will receive P2 million while the team gets P300,000.
