Malacañang-PSC, PNP foil foes in UNTV Cup

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang-Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine National Police (PNP) boosted their bids for outright semis berths by downing their respective rivals in the seventh UNTV Cup held over the weekend at the Pasig Sports Center.

The Malacañang-PSC Kamao hiked their record to 5-1 in Group B following their 75-66 win over the defending champions Senate Defenders through the hot-shooting of Erick dela Cuesta and Michael Ignacio.

The one-time scoring champion of the now-defunct Philippine Basketball League (PBL), Dela Cuesta scattered 22 points while Ignacio added 14 points as the Kamao bucked a slow start that saw them fall behind 23-3 at the end of the first quarter to prevail.

In the third frame the Kamao turned things around, outscoring the Defenders, 31-16, to take the lead, 59-46, going into the last 10 minutes.

Ollan Omiping starred for PNP’s fourth straight win – a 69-61 decision over the Judiciary Magi.

With the win, the PNP Responders improved their record to 5-2 while jeopardizing Judiciary’s quarterfinals’ bid as the Magi absorbed their fifth defeat against only two wins.

Omiping, a former star player of University of the East, tallied 17 points and seven boards while ABL veteran Harold Sta. Cruz, who had only two points, came through with a defensive in the crunch aside from seven boards.

In the other game, Haddi Porto erupted for 26 points as PITC clobbered Department of Agriculture, 88-62, for its fourth in seven games.