The Malacañang Patriots and the House of Representatives Solons will try to keep their championship hopes alive as they meet in UNTV Cup’s double header games at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The Solons is currently at a 0-3 record and would need to win by more than 15 points against the Patriots to eliminate Malacañang and be able to reach the next round of the tournament.

On the other hand, a loss under 15 points for the Patriots would put it in a tie at 1-3 with the Solons and the Senate. HOR will still be eliminated due to their lowest quotient between the three teams.

Meanwhile, a victory by the Patriots would give it a 2-2 team standing, good for 3^rd place in their group.

The HOR Solons will be relying on its reinforcement tandem of swingman Gerard Francisco and center Arnold Gamboa, as well as the backcourt trio of Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas, Jr., Cebu Rep. Gerald Gullas and CIBAC Partylist Rep. Sherwin Tugna.

The Patriots will try to enforce its running game and full court pressure anchored on guards TESDA Chief Joel Villanueva and Marlon Bergonio, as well as the inside play of slotman Greg Malapit.

In the second game, the defending champions Judiciary Magis will try to keep in step with league-leading PhilHealth as they face the Metro Manila Development Authority Black Wolves.

Currently, the Magis is leading Group A with a 3-0 record, which is a win behind PhilHealth’s 4-0. The Black Wolves is at fourth place in the same group with a 1-2 record.

A win by MMDA will put them in a tie with the Local Government Units at 2-2 and will give the Judiciary an identical 3-1 record with current Group A second-place Armed Forces of the Philippines. With this scenario, the quotient system will be the deciding factor for the final placing of the teams as they move to the next round.

The Magis will again be carried by its triumvirate of center Don Camaso and forwards Ariel Capus and John Hall.

The Black Wolves has a trio of its own, with reinforcement forwards Jeffrey Sanders and Cyril Santiago and point guard Peter John Villanueva tasked to carry the team to victory.

A delayed telecast of the games will be shown at UNTV on Sunday, March 30 at 2:00 p.m., with simulcast over at UNTVWeb.com. #

(Written By: Jerlo Kevin Rialp)