UNTV Cup on today; Pacman heads Senate

MANILA, Philippines – The fifth UNTV Cup, an annual tournament for the country’s public servants, opens today at the Mall of Asia Arena with a promise of another interesting chase for the title.

Boxing icon-Sen. Manny Pacquiao and Bong Go, President Duterte’s executive assistant,  are among the new faces  in the annual tournament organized by UNTV through its CEO and president Daniel Razon and vice president for administration Gerry Panghulan.

Pacquiao, the designated player-coach of Mahindra in the PBA, will spearhead the Senate Defenders along with Sen. Joel Villanueva, a former member of the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers in the UAAP.

“I am excited to play side by side with Senators Angara and Villanueva and our goal is to get the UNTV Cup championship,” said Pacquiao, who has been practicing with the team twice a week for over a month now.

Go, known as a three-point machine in Davao tournaments, will be the main man of Malacañang Kamao.

Led by Eugene Tan and Boyet Bautista, Armed Forces of the Philippines is confident of defending its title in the event where the champion team can donate P4 million to its chosen charity aside from getting P500,000.

The runner-up gets P300,000 as its own prize and P2 million for its own charity while the third placer will receive P200,000 and P1 million for its charity.

This year’s edition will see the return of GSIS Furies and Ombudsman Graft Busters with Kenneth Duremdes-mentored Bureau of Customs Transformers as the newest member of the 13-team field.

Also seeing action are the BFP Firefighters, DOJ Justice Boosters, HOR Solons, Judiciary Magis, MMDA Blackwolves, NHA Builders and PNP Responders.

Party-List Rep. Mikee Romero (1Pacman) and Rep Sherwin Tugna will banner the HOR Solons, while Justice Midas Marquez will lead the Judiciary Magis.

Regular games will be played at the Pasig Sports Arena starting Sept. 11, every Sunday. It will be aired live at 2 p.m. over UNTV News & Rescue Channel.