Jasha Gamao

MANILA—DOJ Radiance continued their dominant momentum in the UNTV Cup Executive Face Off 2026, conquering the BJMP Greyhounds with a 65–58 victory on September 16, at the Paco Arena. 

The hard-earned triumph marks the Radiance's second consecutive win of the season, improving their record to 2-0 while handing the Greyhounds their first loss.  

Lipa City Prosecutor and Team Captain Atty. Nonilon Tagalicud spearheaded the DOJ attack, earning Best Player of the Game honors for the second time after delivering a monster double-double performance. 

Atty. Tagalicud powered the offense with 20 points, dominated the glass with 10 rebounds, and added 3 assists and 2 steals to anchor his squad on both ends of the floor.  

Crediting the group’s effort post-game, the Team Captain highlighted their execution and leadership. “Kudos sa team chemistry namin and lalo sa aming coach for really giving us this guidance and giving us the second win,” Tagalicud shared, emphasizing how their strong trust on the floor and strategic coaching paved the way for their early-season success.

The thriller was part of the league’s newly implemented Wednesday schedule adjustments. The UNTV Cup EFO 2026 now features a weekly Wednesday triple-header with tip-offs set for 6:00 PM, 7:30 PM, and 9:00 PM. 

This revised format gives government executives ample time to finish their duties in their respective agencies before hitting the hardwood for a healthy post-work physical routine.

Basketball fans can catch all the live action, game updates, and highlights by following UNTV Sports across their official social media pages and watching the weekly action unfold at Paco Arena.

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MANILA—The PNP Responders showcased relentless grit down the stretch, defeating OP Bagong Pilipinas with a 78-72 victory in their high-stakes battle-for-bronze matchup at the Paco Arena on September 13. 

The hard-earned win officially capped off their campaign, securing the bronze medal this season.

Both teams traded punches in a tightly contested battle, but the Responders executed critical defensive stops and timely baskets in the closing minutes to fend off OP Bagong Pilipinas. 

PNP's disciplined game plan allowed them to hold onto the lead until the final buzzer, sealing their podium finish in the league.

Michael Damiao spearheaded PNP’s podium clincher, earning his first-ever Best Player of the Game honor this season. 

Damiao delivered a stellar performance on the court, dominant on both ends as he posted 12 points and grabbed 6 rebounds to anchor the Responders' victory.

"Basta gawin lang namin yung role namin bilang player, gawin namin yung sinasabi ni Coach na play namin. Yung pagiging best player bonus nalang kasi buong team naman po nagtrabaho para sa panalo," said Damiao in the post-game interview. 

Damiao's milestone recognition added a remarkable highlight to an already memorable night, taking home his individual accolade during the crucial battle for third place. 

PNP Responders now look ahead to building momentum off this victory as they finish the tournament on a high note.

MANILA—The AFP Cavaliers drew first blood in the UNTV Cup Season 12 Finals series, edging out the Ombudsman Graftbusters, 107-101, in an overtime classic on September 13 at the Paco Arena. 

The wire-to-wire showdown opened the best-of-three championship series, with the veteran-laden Cavaliers standing firm under extreme pressure to secure the pivotal victory.

Gil Pagotaisidro took charge for the Cavaliers, earning Best Player of the Game honors after delivering an all-around performance. 

Pagotaisidro poured in 23 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and registered 2 steals, providing the crucial scoring punch and defensive stability needed to pull AFP through the intense extra period.

AFP leaned heavily on its rich championship lineage when the contest hung in the balance. Demonstrating poised veteran skills and sharp decisiveness down the stretch, the Cavaliers executed key plays in overtime to neutralize Ombudsman's relentless offense and seal the hard-earned win.

With the Game 1 victory in hand, the Cavaliers stand just one win away from claiming their fifth title in the prestigious sports and charity league. 

The franchise’s winning culture and playoff composure proved to be the deciding factors in putting them on the brink of another historic championship trophy.

Despite the setback, the Ombudsman Graftbusters remain determined to bounce back and force a decisive Game 3. 

Searching for their first UNTV Cup championship title, the Graftbusters must regroup, man up, and make the necessary adjustments to equalize the series in their upcoming matchup.

MANILA—DOJ Radiance outlasted the Executive Branch Commanders in a 66-62 thriller to capture their first win in the UNTV Cup Executive Face Off 2026 on September 9 at the Paco Arena. 

In a tightly contested Game 2, DOJ held their ground during crunch time to jump to a 1-0 record, handing the Commanders an opening 0-1 setback.

Best Player of the Game Nonilon Tagalicud anchored DOJ’s hard-fought victory with a stellar all-around stat line. 

Tagalicud paced Radiance with 15 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, handed out 2 assists, and swiped 2 steals, asserting his presence on both ends of the floor whenever Executive Branch threatened to pull ahead.

Reflecting on the crucial triumph, Tagalicud emphasized the competitive nature of their opponents. 

“A good way to start the season is panalo agad and hindi naman natin pwedeng maliitin itong ating kalaban dahil magaling talaga ang Executive department and kudos to them,” he said, giving credit to the resilient Commanders squad.

Tagalicud noted that securing an early-season win provides Radiance with pivotal momentum as the competition heats up. 

By establishing a winning rhythm on opening week, DOJ positions itself strength-wise ahead of even tougher matchups in the executive division.

With the victory in hand, DOJ Radiance proved they have the composure and execution needed to close out tight ballgames. 

The team now turns its attention to building on this momentum and refining their defense as they push deeper into the UNTV Cup EFO 2026 tournament.

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MANILA—The PNP Responders delivered a dominant performance to open their UNTV Cup Executive Face Off 2026 campaign, crushing the PhilHealth Health Insurers, 104-59, on September 9 at the Paco Arena. 

PNP asserted control from start to finish, completely outplaying their opponents to secure a commanding 1-0 record in the tournament while dropping PhilHealth to a 0-1 start.

Rookie officer Lieutenant Colonel Alex Abonita spearheaded PNP’s offensive onslaught, earning Best Player of the Game honors with an outstanding double-double. 

Abonita dished out 10 assists and poured in 10 points, consistently setting up his teammates and breaking down PhilHealth's defense to seal the victory.

Expressing his gratitude after the game, Abonita highlighted the hard work behind their triumph. 

“Unang-una nagpapasalamat ako sa team PNP na dumating na sa point na naging executive na ako, nakapaglaro na ako dito… nagpa-practice kami twice a week so siguro that resulted na maganda yung pinakita namin sa court,” he said, reflecting on his journey to the executive division.

The Responders executed their game plan seamlessly, leveraging rigorous preparation into a high-powered, high-scoring offense that left the Health Insurers scrambling. 

PNP's relentless pressure on both ends of the floor ensured PhilHealth never found a rhythm, extending the lead well into double digits.

With this emphatic opening win, the PNP Responders set a formidable tone for the rest of the season. 

Looking ahead, the squad aims to build on this momentum and maintain their sharp form as the UNTV Cup EFO 2026 tournament progresses.

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