Cinderella story in UNTV Cup

It wasn’t quite like the Miracle On Ice, the 4-3 victory by an all-amateur US squad over the experienced Soviet Union in ice hockey at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. In 1999, Sports Illustrated called the upset the top sports moment of the 20th century. But the amazing rise to the top of the Senate Defenders to win the sixth UNTV Cup via a 2-0 sweep of the Malacañang-PSC Kamao in the best-of-3 finals a few days ago had to be as inspiring as the hockey feat.

Last season, Senate didn’t even win a single game in the league that was launched in 2013 by BMPI (Breakthrough and Milestones Productions, Inc.)/UNTV CEO Daniel Razon, known in media as Mr. Public Service. Razon’s concept was to bring together different government agencies in a basketball league where the prize money is given totally to charity. He called the UNTV Cup a league of public servants to showcase competition for the benefit of the less privileged.

This season, UNTV put up P9.6 Million in prize money. Each of the 14 teams in the league earned a share of the loot. For winning the championship, Senate received P4 Million which it donated to the Kythe Foundation, Pangarap Foundation and Tahanang Mapagpala Immaculada Concepcion. Runner-up Malacañang took P2 Million for the Philippine Children’s Medical Center and Millennium Sports Support System Association. Third placer AFP Cavaliers pocketed P1 Million which went to the AFP Educational Benefit System Office. Fourth placer NHA Builders got P500,000 for the NHA Provident Fund Association. The 10 other finishers PNP Responders, Judiciary Magis, GSIS Furies, PDEA Drug Busters, BFP Firefighters, DOJ Justice Boosters, DA Food Masters, DOH Health Achievers, COA Enablers and Ombudsman Graft Busters received P100,000 each for their designated charities.

PBA legend Atoy Co has been the UNTV Cup commissioner since its inception. Previous winners were Judiciary in 2013, AFP in 2014, Judiciary in 2015, AFP in 2016 and PNP in 2017. Among the coaches this season were Freddie Hubalde of COA, Joshua Villapando of DOH, Zaldy Realubit of DA, Louie Gonzalez of Malacañang, Bennet Palad of NHA, Gilbert Malabanan of BFP, Sonny Manucat of AFP and Mike Fermin of Senate.

To qualify for the UNTV Cup, players must be at least 32. Ex-pros with experience in the PBA, MBA or ABL must be at least 35 and retired or inactive for the past five years. Each team is allowed to recruit three former pros but only two are allowed to play at the same time on the court. This season’s ex-pros included Don Camaso, Warren Ybanez, Robbie Sanz, Jimwell Torion, Boyet Bautista, Marlon Basco, Chester Tolomia, Christian Luanzon, Rob Wainwright, Marlon Legaspi, Jeffrey Sanders, Sammy (Tata) Marata and Malabanan.

In the first round of eliminations, the 14 teams were split into two groups of seven. The top four teams in each group advanced to the second round. Dropping out from Group A were BFP, DOH and COA while the disqualified teams from Group B were DOJ, DA and OMB. The eight survivors then battled in the second round with the top two placers gaining outright semifinal slots and the next four finishers playing in the quarterfinals. GSIS and PDEA were struck out in the second round. AFP and NHA went straight to the semifinals while Senate dumped PNP, 74-66 and Malacañang ousted Judiciary, 79-64, in the quarters. AFP enjoyed a twice-to-beat advantage in the semis but was swept by Senate, 74-64 and 86-80. NHA also enjoyed a twice-to-beat edge but was booted out by Malacañang, 86-82 and 88-82. That set the stage for the best-of-3 showdown between Senate and Malacañang for the crown.