PNP center Jaymann Misola (Center-blue) forces his way to score underneath the basket against the frontline players of AFP. The Responders escapes the Cavaliers, 71-69. (Photo by: Prince Maverick Medina Marquez | Photoville International)

The PNP Responders came up with the victory to keep their clean slate as they escaped the AFP Cavaliers by only two points, 71-69, in the main game of UNTV Cup 2 last Sunday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The game was close all throughout as the fourth quarter started at 50 apiece.

The Responders then connected on successive field goals to establish the biggest lead in the game at 58-52. The Cavaliers refused to bow down, however, as they stormed back to gain a 62-59 advantage midway through the last quarter.

Both teams refused to go down and it was still a tied ballgame at 64-all in the last two minutes of the games.

The PNP Responders locks their arms together as a sign of unity as its game with the AFP Cavaliers goes down the wire. The Responders escapes the Cavaliers, 71-69. (Photo by: Prince Maverick Medina Marquez | Photoville International)

Two free throws from Season 1 MVP Ollan Omiping with only two seconds remaining in the game settled the final score in favor of the Responders.

PNP forward Ronald Abaya led the Responders with 21 points on 9/14 shooting from the field while Omiping gave sufficient support with 15 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals.

Shooting guard Winston Sergio led AFP with 18 points and 5 rebounds.

With the win, PNP maintains the leadership with a 7-0 record. AFP claims third place with a 4-2 record.

Adriano Carries LGU Over Solons

In the first game, the LGU Vanguards relied on the stellar performance of reinforcement guard Kiko Adriano to claim the victory against the House of Representatives Solons, 103-97.

Vanguards guards Kiko Adriano (L) and Victor Vasquez (C) applying intense ball pressure on Solons point guard Niel Tupas, Jr. (R). The LGU Vanguards wins over the HOR Solons, 103-97. (Photo by: Prince Maverick Medina Marquez | Photoville International)

The Vanguards did not feel the absence of their two key players, forward Ervic Vijandre and center San Juan vice mayor Francis Zamora, as Adriano scored at will and dominated the opposition.

Adriano finished with a triple-double performance of 49 points, 17 rebounds and 11 assists to lift LGU to a 3-4 record, good enough for fifth place in the team standings.

The Solons played well as a team, with five players scoring in double figures led by Cebu 3rd District Rep. Gerard Gullas with 26 points. However, it wasn’t enough to keep Adriano and the Vanguards in check.

“I really wanted to be aggressive so that, at least, it would carry the team. We know our team’s situation that if we lose we may most probably be eliminated so we gave our all,” Adriano said of his all-around performance after the game.

Judiciary Wins Over Senate

The second game featured the Judiciary Magis winning over the Senate Defenders, 79-71.

Judiciary’s slotman Rodel Chua works his way for an undergoal stab as Senate forward Ryan Endaya defends the painted area. The Magis wins over the Defenders, 79-71. (Photo by: Prince Maverick Medina Marquez | Photoville International)

It was a grueling game, with three players that graduated from the game and two more that almost fouled out.

The Senate team, in particular, has their two best players, forward Kenneth Duremdes and shooting guard Samuel Marata, with four fouls each as early as the third quarter. Marata eventually fouled out before the end of the third period.

Despite their woes, the Senate gave a good account of themselves, as they came to within 4 points with three minutes remaining in the game.

Forward Ariel Capus led the Magis attack with 30 points, 8 rebounds and 4 steals.

Duremdes paced the Defenders with 30 points of his own, 12 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals.

“We were a bit nervous at the end part of the game because I fouled out and Kenneth (Duremdes) delivered, we thought that we cannot relax. It was a good thing that my teammates responded and were aggressive on defense,” Capus stated in a post-game interview.

The Magis solidified their hold of second place with 5 wins and 1 loss while the Defenders is in seventh place with a 2-4 record.

(Written by Jerlo Kevin Rialp)