PNP shared the lead in the top spot of the team standings after a 88-82 hard-fought win over DOJ Justice boosters last June 11. (Photo by: Rodel Lumiares, Photoville International)

PASIG CITY – The PNP Responders, AFP Cavaliers and the Senate Sentinels secured important wins in their respective UNTV Cup Executive Face-off games last Sunday, June 11 at the Pasig Sports Center.

In the first game, the PNP Responders came from behind to stun the DOJ Justice Boosters with a score of 88-82.

The Justice Boosters still led by four points with only 1 minute and 48 seconds remaining in the final quarter. A five-point flurry by the Responders from a defensive play by P/Supt. Dexter Vitug that resulted in a transition lay-up by P/Supt. Anthony Padua and a booming triple from P/Supt. Ireneo Dalogdog gave them the lead and the ballgame.

P/Supt. Anthony Padua (32 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 blocks) and P/Supt. Dexter Vitug (28 points, 19 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 blocks) carried the Responders, which at one point was down 13 points late in the third period. The two were hailed as the best players in the game.

Meanwhile, the Senate Sentinels gave the Bureau of Customs Transformers their fourth loss in as many games with an 82-67 blowout win.

Sen. Sonny Angara surveys the floor against Deputy Commissioner Gerardo Gambala of BOC Transformers. (Photo by: Rodel Lumiares, Photoville International)

Senator Sonny Angara and Director Lino Ong led the balanced Sentinels attack, with the senator chipping in 14 points. On the other hand, the 6-foot-5 Ong finished with 22 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks.

Sen. Angara said of the game, “The Customs performed well in the first quarter. Coach needed to adjust a bit, we grabbed rebounds and we got points from those and then we maintained our team effort.”

In the third game, the AFP Cavaliers won 82-68 against the Judiciary Magis.

The game was a nip-and-tuck affair all throughout, with the third quarter ending in a 54-all deadlock. In the final quarter, the Cavaliers turned on the defensive pressure, with their full court trapping defense causing several turnovers and disrupting the game of the Magis.

The best players of the game for AFP are Col. Oliver Vesliño 16 points and 2 steals while Col. Ed Abutin 10 points, 8 rebounds and 3 steals.

With the results, the PNP Responders and the AFP Cavaliers are now tied at first place with identical 3-1 win-loss records, while the Senate Sentinels are in a three-way logjam at the middle of the standings with DOJ and the Judiciary, all three having 2-2 team records.

Games on Sunday, June 18, 2017 at the Pasig Sports Center.

1st Game: BOC vs DOJ

2nd Game: Judiciary vs Senate

3rd Game: AFP vs PNP

Written by: Jerlo Kevin Rialp