Games tomorrow (Ynares Sports Arena, Pasig City)
2 p.m. – BFP VS MMDA
3:30 p.m. – AFP VS DOJ
5 p.m. – PNP VS JUDICIARY
MANILA, Philippines - The second round of the third UNTV Cup starts tomorrow with Malacañang and Judiciary out to sustain their hot form while the rest vowed to play much better to boost their own chances of playing in the finals.
Both Malacañang and Judiciary swept their group assignments with the Patriots winning all their four games in the five-team Group A while the Magis registered five wins in the six-team Group B.
Aside from Malacañang, also making it to the next phase of the tournament from Group A are Philippine National Police, Department of Justice and Bureau of Fire Protection while joining Judiciary in Group B are defending champion Armed Forces of the Philippines, Senate and Metro Manila Development Authority.
House of Representatives (Group A), National Housing Authority (Group B) and Government Service Insurance System (Group B) were eliminated early but promised to form formidable squads to become title contenders next season.
Both the Solons and the Builders exited without winning a game while the GSIS Furies were edged out by the MMDA Black Wolves for the fourth and last berth to the second by virtue of the win-over-the-other rule.
Carrying a 4-0 record after the league negated the result of their game against the eliminated Builders, the Magis launch their semis bid against the PNP Responders at 5 p.m.
Boosted by their 88-77 win over the Kenneth Duremdes-mentored Senate Defenders, the AFP Cavaliers battle the DOJ Boosters at 3:30 p.m. after the showdown of MMDA and BFP at 2 p.m.
Commissioner Atoy Co expects the second round to be more intense as the eight remaining teams are excited to donate the P1.5 million top prize to their chosen beneficiary.