Mr. Public Service Kuya Daniel Razon is the brain behind UNTV Cup, the only charity basketball league in the Philippines consisting of teams from all branches of the government. (Photo by: Kenji Hasegawa, Photoville International)

The Philippine Sportswriters’ Association awarded a citation to UNTV Cup in their Annual Awards night on February 12 (Sunday) this year at the Le Pavillon in Pasay City.

UNTV Cup, the first and the biggest public service basketball league in the country, is a brainchild of BMPI-UNTV CEO and Chairman Kuya Daniel Razon.

“Of course, thanks be unto the Lord. Our gratitude as well to the Philippine Sportswriters Association or PSA for this citation. We are gracious for welcoming us and our concepts like this and we’re looking forward to join hands with you in doing all public services that we offer,” Kuya Daniel said the following day during a live television broadcast on UNTV News and Rescue channel.

“We thank the Lord because we were given recognition for Kuya Daniel and Brother Eli’s goal and advocacy and we are very much thankful,” BMPI-UNTV’s Vice President Gerardo Panghulan said after receiving the recognition In Le Pavillon in Pasay City.

A Good Concept Worth Promoting

Impressed by the exceptional concept of UNTV Cup in bringing government agencies together for a cause, the Philippine Sportswriters’ Association handed an award to Gerry Panghulan in behalf of Kuya Daniel Razon last February 12 at the Le Pavillon in Pasay City. (Photo by: Mon Jocson, UNTV News and Rescue)

The organization raved about the basketball league’s commitment to do charitable acts to our countrymen, giving away up to ten million pesos to winning partner charitable institutions this season.

“UNTV Cup is good because government employees were brought together, and then whoever wins as the champion will donate a certain amount. That is a good concept, that is why it should be promoted,” Rey Mallari, who is the current PSA President, said in the vernacular.

“They do not collect fees from the teams and then helping charitable institutions is highlighted in the league. The PSA saw that the objective is good, that is why we gave a citation award to UNTV Cup,” added Mallari.

PSA echoed the same admiration of Kuya Daniel’s basketball concept and considered UNTV’s efforts as a big help to their own.

PSC Chairman Butch Ramirez said of the league: “UNTV has done big with Kuya Daniel on his inter-government sports program. That is a major thing, and I think UNTV was able to make a difference on that area for inter-government activities, while both POC and PSC did not make it. So I think it was UNTV who made a difference.”

PSA, the oldest media organization in the country, recognized UNTV Cup’s one-of-a-kind sports activity that promotes camaraderie among civil servants in the executive, legislative and judiciary branches of government through the game of basketball.

Bigger Plans in the Future

UNTV Cup, now on Season 5, was launched in 2013 by Kuya Daniel Razon to promote camaraderie amongst public officials and employees while providing donations to charitable institutions.. (Photo by: Charlie Miñon, Photoville International)

Meanwhile, UNTV has bared big plans for the upcoming off season of the charitable league.

“We are thinking of putting an off-season series wherein the players are the top-level executives of each team. Of course, they will play for a cause. We will have the same set-up. Their prizes will go to their beneficiaries,” remarked Panghulan.

UNTV Cup started in 2013 with seven basketball teams from various government agencies. On its maiden season, it gave away almost two million pesos to the winning teams and their partner charities.

It now has 13 participating teams and has already given away close to 20 million pesos in cash donations.

Kuya Daniel also committed to continuing and improving the basketball league for-a-cause, along with his other public service advocacies.

Written by Jerlo Kevin Rialp