Nearly P10 million has been announced going for the winning team’s chosen charities through UNTV Cup this season, a record for public service in the basketball tournament’s five-year season. Last season’s cash prize, which was the highest on record, reached P8.3 million.

The fifth season of UNTV Cup officially commenced on August 29 at the full-packed Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

As one of the biggest public service projects of Kuya Daniel Razon, UNTV Cup has already doled out P20 million worth of cash and donation to the chosen charitable institutions of winning teams during the last four seasons.

Tournament Focused on Charity

Playing basketball in the hard court is secondary since charity is the focus of the basketball tournament aimed at encouraging sportsmanship and camaraderie among government agencies. The thrust of UNTV Cup echoes that which UNTV is known for: committed public service.

“UNTV is the only public service channel focused on serving our countrymen,” said Kuya Daniel Razon, Chairman and CEO of UNTV-BMPI. “Our heartfelt gratitude goes first to the Lord, and to all of you who supported the fifth season of UNTV Cup.”

Eleven out of the thirteen (13) participating government agencies already revealed their partner charities:

• Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Cavaliers: AFP – Educational Benefit Systems Office (AFP-EBSO)
• Philippine National Police (PNP) Responders: Police Community Relations Group Drug Rehabilitation Program
• National Housing Authority (NHA) Builders: NHA Provident Fund Association, Inc.
• Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Black Wolves: Philippine General Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Philippine Cerebral Palsy, Inc. and Damayan MMDA Provident Fund
• Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Firefighters: Philippine Science High School Foundation, Inc.
• Malacanang Kamao: Philippine Children’s Medical Center
• Senate Defenders: Kythe Foundation, Inc., Pangarap Foundation and Share an Opportunity Philippines, Inc.
• Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Furies: Golden Reception and Action Center for Elderly and Other Special Cases (GRACES)
• House of Representatives (HOR) Solons: Foundation of Our Lady of Peace Missions, Inc. and Congressional Spouses Foundation, Inc.
• Ombudsman Graft Busters: Ombudsman Provident Fund
• Bureau of Customs (BOC) Transformers: Caritas Manila, Inc.

Meanwhile, the Judiciary Magis and the Department of Justice (DOJ) Justice Boosters are still on the process of finalizing their respective beneficiaries as of this writing.

Aside from cash prize and donation, the basketball tournament has consistently given assistance to league fans every game day with its one-stop-shop public service booth in partnership with participating government agencies.

Cheers from Public Servants

Newly-elected Senator Joel “Tesdaman” Villanueva commended the UNTV Cup concept initiated by Kuya Daniel Razon.

“We are very happy for him. UNTV Cup is about giving opportunity for all of us to show our skills and talents but, more importantly, to ensure that we’ll be able to become channel of blessings for our partner recipient foundations,” Sen. Villanueva said on a post-game interview. “It is such a noble intention, noble work, and we are very happy to be part of UNTV Cup.”

Meanwhile, Senator Sonny Angara congratulated Kuya Daniel and UNTV for a successful staging of UNTV Cup’s fifth season, “to Kuya Daniel and the rest of the UNTV family, congratulations on the very successful league UNTV Cup 5. Thanks and more power to you. May God bless you.”

Last year’s Finals MVP Boyet Bautista of the AFP Cavaliers also was very appreciative of Kuya Daniel and the UNTV Cup. “I am thankful because he (Kuya Daniel) helps a lot of beneficiaries who needs our help,” said the former professional basketball player.

“He (Kuya Daniel) used basketball as a way to help others so it is a great concept that we are able to play while, at the same time, we are able to help others,” Bautista added.

Spotlight on the Executive Branch 

Kuya Daniel bared in a post-game interview that an exhibition basketball game with President Rodrigo Duterte’s cabinet officials will be organized, with proceeds going to charity.

“We are now setting up a charity game which will be participated in by different cabinet secretaries. They will be in one team and they would participate in a special event for charity.”

It will be recalled that UNTV organized an offseason pocket tournament called “Clash of the Three.” It ran from August to October 2014 at the Yñares Sports Arena and featured the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary teams, along with a fourth team, Media or Team ni Kuya. Team Judiciary won the pocket tournament and its P1 million prize which was donated to the Children In Conflict with the Law (CICL) organization.

Massive Support from MCGI

The league’s major sponsor Bro. Eli Soriano, Overall Servant of the Members Church of God International (MCGI), also gave his inspiring words during the opening ceremony.

“Play to sweat. For you to be exhausted, you have done much help to the charitable institutions, much like the winning teams. I believe that is a kind of a sacrifice.”, the widely-known televangelist of the religious TV program Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path) said during his inspirational speech in the program.

Written by: Jerlo Kevin Rialp