AFP Cavaliers and PNP Responders first fives huddle before the game 1 of UNTV Cup Season 4 Finals. (Cyron Monton / Photoville International)
The second game of the best of three championship series is set on Monday, March 7, at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
If PNP Responders win on Game 2, they will be the 3rd team to claim the prestigious UNTV Cup. But if AFP wins, there will be a game 3 on March 14 also at The Big Dome.
The champion will take home 4 million pesos, where 3.5 million will be given to their chosen charity while half a million goes to the team.
The runner up will get 2 million pesos where 1.7 goes to their beneficiary and 300k for the team.
PNP Responders chose two charity institutions as their beneficiaries: PNP Sports Development Program and the Sangguniang Masang Pilipino International Foundation.
AFP Cavaliers’ beneficiary remains to be the AFP Educational Benefit System Office (AEBSO) that funds the schooling of the children of the wounded / died soldiers.
PNP Responders wants to end and finally win the crown on the 2nd game but AFP thinks they can be a two-time champion.
With AFP coming back from a 0-1 disadvantage in a best of 3 finals series, will this be a repeat of the UNTV Cup Season 2 history? Let’s find out.
Meanwhile, let’s digest how the Responders took the game 1 of this season’s finals.
PNP Responders unleashed a timely and teamwork strategy to take the first battle of their best of 3 championship war with AFP Cavaliers at jampacked Ynares Sports Arena on Sunday night, February 28.
UNTV Cup, the public service channel’s basketball competition where cash prizes are donated to charities, is led by multi-awarded broadcaster and Mr. Public Service Daniel Razon.
The Responders survived the rally brought up by the Cavaliers in the final period to grab game 1, 84-80 and took a commanding 1-0 series lead, only needing to win the 2nd game to bring home the crown that is close but yes so far for 3 seasons already.
MVP candidate and already a 2-time winner, Ollan Omiping came again with a sterling performance of 28 points, 8 out of 17 from the field, 3 out of 6 triples, 9 out of 11 free throws, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and two steals to lead the PNP attack mapped out by their Coach Estong Ballesteros who was teary-eyed after the victory.
Omiping and Ballesteros promised that they will win the title this time, as both teams also faced in season 2 finals, where PNP also won the 1st game, only to lose the next two games to eventual champion AFP.
Harold Sta. Cruz, facing a difficult challenge against Cavaliers big men, put up 20 markers, 8 out of 11 field goals, 2 out of 4 triples and 7 boards while role player Alejandro Yanquiling III registered 13 points and was 6 out of 8 from the field.
PNP took the 1st period, 23-10 as they out rebounded, out hustled and forced the soldiers to more turnovers while Omiping started to record 7 markers.
Sta. Cruz was able to back up the 2-time MVP in the 2nd quarter as the Responders finished the 1st half comfortably leading, 45-28.
AFP’s ace point guard Boyet Bautista came to life in the 3rd canto, even as team mate Eugene Tan fouled out in the game, and the Cavaliers trimmed down the policemen lead after the 3rd, 62-52.
In the 8-minute mark of the final quarter, the score was 64-59, PNP still leading but the momentum already on AFP’s side as Jeffrey Quiambao, Winston Sergio and Rolando Pascual ignited a scoring run.
With Omiping’s back-to-back triples, PNP increased their lead to 11, 72-61, 6:21 left.
Bautista’s jumper and Ian Araneta’s triple decreased the gap to 6, 72-66 with 5 minutes and 25 seconds left.
Sta. Cruz retaliated with back to back basket, but Alvin Zuñiga’s three kept the AFP alive, 76-69 at the 3:53 mark.
Pascual’s free-throws and jumper cut the PNP’s lead to 5, 78-73 with 2:58 left.
Anton Tolentino committed a backing violation for the Responders but Bautista didn’t made any of his foul shots in the succeeding play.
Sta. Cruz was called for a traveling while Quiambao missed a basket.
Japhet Cabahug’s layup made the count, 80-73 for PNP.
But Zuñiga scored a triple off an Omiping’s foul.
Zuñiga did not complete the 4-point play, but Quiambao was able to get the offensive board and passed it to Joel Jabar which was block by Omiping on his attempt.
Omiping and Pascual missed their jumper but Omiping converted on a layup, to make the count, 82-76, 50.5 ticks remaining.
Pascual scored an and-1 play inside but missed the bonus freethrow. Quiambao got again the offensive glass and passed the ball to Pascual who scored again this time with a reversed layup.
With 38.2 seconds left, the jam packed crowd at the Ynares Sports Center was up at their seats, PNP only leading by two, 82-80.
Sta. Cruz was able to block the game-tying attempt of Sergio that led to an Omiping layup on the other end as PNP survived AFP’s scare, 84-80 as the final bell rang.
Pascual, being a clutch player for Coach Alfredo Cayco for all of the 4 seasons, led the Cavaliers with a gallant effort of 20 points, 8 of 9 from the field, 4 of 5 free throws, 5 rebounds and 3 steals.
Team Captain Zuñiga tallied 17 markers, 4 boards and 3 assists while Bautista chipped in 16 points.
Despite their loss in this first encounter, AFP remains hopeful.
UNTV Cup Season 4 Finals! The champion of public service!
The Cup Scores
PNP 84 — Omiping 28, Sta. Cruz 20, Yanquiling 13, Tolentino 6, Cabahug 5, Ongutan 5, Criste 3, Abaya 2, Misola 2
AFP 80 — Pascual 20, Zuñiga 17, Bautista 16, Araneta 11, Quiambao 9, Sergio 7
Quarter Scores: 23-10, 45-28, 62-52, 84-80
(MARK SUBA)
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