Fans cheer their hearts out in the semifinals of UNTV Cup Season 5. (Photo by: Fred, Photoville International)

Intense hard-court action is in store for the fans of the UNTV Cup this Feb. 19 (Sunday) as four powerhouse teams collide in a knockout semifinals doubleheader at the Pasig City Sports Center.

Now on its fifth season, the inter-agency basketball league UNTV Cup was initiated by BMPI-UNTV Chairman and CEO Kuya Daniel Razon.

Two-time league champion Judiciary Magis seek a return date to the finals as they do battle against long-time rival PNP Responders in the first game schedule at 3 p.m.

The second game scheduled at 5 p.m., on the other hand, features Season 3 runners-up Malacanang Kamao looking for an upset against the star-studded Bureau of Customs Transformers.

Underdogs Staving Off Elimination

It’s a win or go home situation for all the teams tomorrow as they battle for spots in the finals. (Photo by: Fred, Photoville International)

Both the Palace and the PNP fives shocked their respective opponents last Feb. 12 to negate the twice-to-beat advantage and force a knock-out game date on February 19.

In the curtain raiser, the Kamao went toe-to-toe against the heavily favored Transformers squad to win 99-88. Gunners Eric Dela Cuesta and Vishnu Das Javier fired on all cylinders, contributing 32 points and 22 points respectively for the Palace five.

Meanwhile, the Responders crushed a lackluster Magis team, 92-67, with their suffocating defense in the second game. Sweet-shooting guard Anton Tolentino finished with 22 points and 4 assists while slotman Harold Sta. Cruz added 7 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Responders’ balanced attack.

UNTV Cup Promoting Charity Through Basketball

UNTV-BMPI CEO Kuya Daniel Razon is the brain behind the successful charity-basketball league UNTV Cup in the country. (Photo by: Kenji Hasegawa, Photoville International)

The UNTV Cup, through the efforts of Kuya Daniel and the league’s primary sponsor Members Church of God International (MCGI) led by its Overall Servant Bro. Eli Soriano, will be giving away more than P10 million to winning teams and their chosen beneficiary charitable institutions this season.

League players did not fail to notice the noble mission of the league to instill camaraderie among government agencies and to promote charity and goodwill to the  poor.

PNP Responders forward Harold Sta. Cruz remarked, “First of all, Kuya Daniel Razon, you are a hero because through this league, you give entertainment, at the same time, help”, during a postgame interview last (Feb 12) Sunday.

This month, UNTV Cup received a citation from the Philippine Sportswriters’ Association for its unwavering drive to do charitable acts through sports.

“Regardless of race, religion, beliefs and views in life, our mission is to provide help to those in need,” Kuya Daniel said during a live news broadcast on UNTV News and Rescue Channel. “You can count on it, that with or without this citation, with God’s help UNTV will continue its public service.”