THE Philippine National Philippine Responders defeated the Malacañang Kamao, 68-55, to win the UNTV Cup Season 5 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City.
With the victory, the policemen, led by PNP Chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who personally watched the game, ended the team’s four-year title drought and received the P4-million, tax-free prize for their chosen beneficiary, the Samahang Masang Pilipino International Foundation Incorporated.
Second placer Malacañang Kamao still got a P2-million tax-free prize for the cancer patients of the Philippine Children Medical Center and the Millennium Sports Support System Association Incorporated.
The top two prizes are beside the total amount of donation prizes (P2,700,000) already given to the rest of the UNTV Cup participating teams for their chosen beneficiaries.
UNTV Cup, the league of public servants, as conceptualized by public service advocate Kuya Daniel Razon, aims to promote camaraderie, brotherhood and sportsmanship among the participating government agencies with an aspect of public service through basketball.
Over the years, it has evolved into a more dynamic and exciting tournament giving participants the chance to play basketball alongside their idolized professional players. The amount of money given for their chosen charities has tremendously increased with the augmentation from Bro. Eli Soriano from Members Church of God International.
This season, another P1.1 million was added to the prize for the Final 4 teams’ discretion: P500,000 (champion) P300,000 (2nd placer) P200,000 (3rd placer), P100,000 (4th placer).
“From the bottom of my heart, nagpapasalamat ako, in behalf of the PNP sa pagkakataon na ito na ibinigay sa amin para maipakita ng ating mga kapulisan ang kanilang abilidad sa larangan ng basketball,” Dela Rosa said. “Kay Kuya Daniel, sagad-sagad na ang pasasalamat natin, madami na siyang naibigay na tulong sa amin. Sobra-sobra na po, kaya sana tuloy-tuloy and inyong suwerte at blessings ni Lord sa kaniya, sa UNTV.”
Games and Amusement Board Chairman and Malacañang Kamao player Abraham Mitra, on the other hand, said: “We want to take this opportunity to thank you and for bringing us together with our co-workers in the government. Thank you for a very organized league. We hope and pray for the success of the league and for the success to serve our people.”
Meanwhile, an off-season mini-tournament will start by the month of May wherein the top officials /executives will play this time, to be participated in by the Senate, BOC, Judiciary, AFP and PNP.
