Contributed by Lou Ventigan
The 2nd Season of the UNTV Cup was off to a rousing start as a large crowd of basketball fans trooped to the Araneta Coliseum last February 11, 2014 to witness the opening match between the Senate Defenders versus the House of Representatives SOLONS.
Led by PBA Legend Kenneth Duremdes who tallied 36 points, 8 assists, and 3 steals, the Senate Defenders took care of an undermanned SOLONS team who were only able to field 7 players.
The basketball charity tournament aims to foster develop camaraderie, sportsmanship and unity among players and supporters, who in return reach out to their chosen charitable institutions.
Mr. Public Service Kuya Daniel Razon, assured the audience that besides watching a good basketball game it would also be a day for public service.
“Every game day we have in UNTV Cup will involve public service and we will have booths from all ten participating agencies. That is why every game day is people’s day,” he explained.
“You can go to the basketball game venue visit each of the booth of the team’s representatives, and seek their assistance.”
The ten teams from different government agencies include Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Justice (DOJ), Supreme Court (SC), Philhealth, House of Representatives, Senate, Local Govt Unit, Malacanang and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), The MMDA Black Wolves are considered to be one of the dark horse for this 10-team tournament.
Each team were allowed to get two “reinforcements” from the PBA Legends (those who have been retired for 5 years) or players who played in other professional or semi-professional leagues. According to UNTV Cup Commissioner Atoy Co, having reinforcements will hopefully bring balance to the teams.
The Champion of the UNTV Cup 2 will win One Million Peso (Php 1,000,000), Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 500,000) for the 1st runner up, Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php 250,000) for the 2nd runner up and One Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php 150,000) for the 3rd runner up– which they will donate to their chosen charity.
RESULTS OF SEASON 1 (Completed last November 2013):
The four-month tournament held on its first season successfully began and ended at the jam-packed Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The participating teams of Season 1 were the following:
a. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
b. Philippine National Police (PNP)
c. Judiciary/Supreme Court
d. Congress-LGU
e. PhilHealth
f. Department of Justice (DOJ)
g. MMDA
The winners of the first season are as follows:
• 4th Place – Philhealth (Philhealth Advocates) / Beneficiary: Cancer Warriors Foundation
• 3rd Place – AFP (AFP Cavaliers) / Beneficiary: AFP Educational Benefit System Office
• 2nd Place – PNP (PNP Hinirangs) / Beneficiary: Masonic Charities for Crippled Children
• Champion – Judiciary (Team Judiciary) / Beneficiary: Earthquake Victims of Cebu and Bohol, and Standoff Victims of Zamboanga
To further enhance the public service aspect of the league, each game day every Sunday will also be a public service” day for the participating agencies. Prior to the game, each agency will be given a booth at the game venue, where our game audience may seek for the services of each organization.
All games will be held every Sunday at Ynares Sports Arena, and broadcasted live 2:30pm at UNTV and live streaming at http://www.untvweb.com.
