Jasha Gamao

The battle for supremacy in UNTV Cup Season 12 intensifies as the elimination round wraps up. 

Headlining the top of the leaderboard, the Ombudsman Graftbusters and the PNP Responders locked in identical 7-2 win-loss records, officially earning the coveted direct passes straight to the semifinal round.

Trailing closely behind, four formidable contenders have punched their tickets to the quarterfinal phase. 

The COMELEC Vanguards and the AFP Cavaliers matched each other with impressive 6-3 standings, while the Judiciary Magis secured their playoff berth at 5-4. 

Rounding out the quarterfinal stage, OP Bagong Pilipinas safely advanced with a 4-5 record to keep their championship hopes alive.

Meanwhile, the elimination round brought heartbreak to two squads fighting to stay above water. 

Despite finishing with a 4-5 mark, the PhilHealth Health Insurers fell short of the playoff cut. Joining them on the sidelines are the DENR Lawin Patrollers, who officially bow out of the tournament with a 2-6 record.

The high-stakes playoff battle resumes as the Quarterfinal Round tips off on August 12, 2026, staying grounded at the historic Paco Arena in Manila. 

Expect zero room for error as surviving teams fight tooth and nail in knockout action to secure the remaining semifinal slots.

Don't miss a single second of the hard-court action as public servants play for glory and charity! Catch the games live at the Paco Arena or stream full live coverage online via the official UNTV Sports social media channels.

‍

MANILA—The COMELEC Vanguards fended off a furious late-game rally by OP Bagong Pilipinas to secure a razor-thin 94–92 victory on August 9 at the Paco Arena in Manila. 

The hard-fought win officially propelled COMELEC into the UNTV Cup Season 12 quarterfinals, locking up the third spot in the team standings with an impressive 6–3 record.

Despite missing crucial momentum down the stretch after Team Captain Jemuel Namocatcat fouled out in the game’s final minutes, COMELEC leaned heavily on player of the game Vincent Curador. 

Curador delivered a clutch performance with 12 points and 2 rebounds, steadying the Vanguards’ offense and repelling OP’s relentless comeback attempt until the final buzzer sounded.

Refusing to waver in the clutch, Curador reaffirmed his team’s commitment to their battle plan heading into the next round. 

“Then doon talaga sa quarterfinals, gagawin talaga namin lahat yung mga turo ni Coach, lahat ng mga play…wala kaming babaguhin–takbo lang ng takbo yun lang talaga,” Curador stated after his game-winning effort.

Despite taking the agonizing two-point loss, OP Bagong Pilipinas still kept their playoff hopes alive. 

Dropping to a 4–5 record, they managed to secure a spot and advance to the next round, setting up an even higher-stakes quarterfinal stage in the UNTV Cup Season 12.

‍

MANILA—The PhilHealth Health Insurers closed out their UNTV Cup Season 12 campaign on a high note, grinding out a hard-fought 66–64 victory against the Judiciary Magis in the second round elimination on August 9 at the Paco Arena. 

In a battle that came down to the wire, PhilHealth executed crucial plays in the final minutes to secure the heart-pumping win and exit the tournament with heads held high.

Despite the victory, the result marked the end of the road for the Health Insurers, who finished the season eliminated with a 4–5 record. 

Meanwhile, the Judiciary Magis still secured their spot in the next round, advancing to the quarterfinals with a 5–4 win-loss slate.

Rookie guard Jumil Arumpac spearheaded PhilHealth’s attack, earning Best Player of the Game honors after delivering an all-around performance. 

Arumpac set the tempo for his side, dropping 19 points alongside 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals to anchor the team's offense and defense throughout the uphill battle.

Reflecting on his standout maiden campaign, an emotional Arumpac expressed his gratitude for the national platform provided by the league. 

"As a probinsyano, ito yung pinaka-memorable—itong ini-interview. Kasi wala to sa amin eh. Tapos nakikita ka nationwide," Arumpac shared after the match, wrapping up a memorable individual run despite his team’s exit.

‍

MANILA—The DENR Lawin Patrollers unleashed a furious fourth-quarter charge to stun the COMELEC Vanguards, 87-84, in a thriller during the UNTV Cup Season 12 second round elimination on August 5. 

Behind relentless energy and tactical composure, the Patrollers chipped away at the Vanguards’ lead before landing the decisive blow down the stretch. 

The heartbreaking defeat dealt a major blow to COMELEC, tumbling them down from the third spot to fifth place in the team standings.

Anchoring DENR’s late-game surge was Federico Alupani, who delivered a stellar performance to earn Best Player of the Game honors. 

Alupani dropped 16 points and grabbed 7 rebounds, displaying exceptional discipline and determination to lift his squad across the finish line. 

“Sabi ni Coach, laruin lang po namin yung best namin, go hard lang sa laro tapos ibigay lang namin yung 100% namin kaya inunti-unti namin ibaba yung lamang hanggang fourth quarter,” Alupani shared after the game, emphasizing his commitment to execute the game plan and contribute directly to the team's victory.

Despite the emotional win, the road ends early for DENR in Season 12. Holding a 3-5 win-loss record, the Lawin Patrollers have officially lost their chance to advance to the quarterfinal phase. 

Nevertheless, they look to end their season campaign on a high note when they face off against the formidable, second-ranked Ombudsman Graftbusters in their final matchup on August 9, 2026.

On the flip side, the COMELEC Vanguards still control their own destiny with a playoff spot within reach. 

They are set for a high-stakes, head-to-head showdown on August 9, 2026 against OP Bagong Pilipinas, where both squads will collide with everything on the line to secure their place in the postseason picture.

‍

MANILA—The AFP Cavaliers continued their hot streak in the UNTV Cup Season 12 second-round elimination stage, turning back the PhilHealth Health Insurers, 86–79, on August 5, at the Paco Arena. 

Driven by aggressive transition plays and clutch defense late in the game, the Cavaliers weathered PhilHealth’s counter-attack to bag the crucial victory. 

The triumph officially elevates AFP to the No. 3 seed in the updated team standings as the tournament hits its most crucial stretch.

This triumph marks a crucial back-to-back winning streak for the Armed Forces squad, following their hard-fought victory against the Ombudsman Graftbusters on August 2. 

Maintaining momentum from their previous outing, the Cavaliers showed impressive poise down the stretch to frustrate PhilHealth's late comeback actions. 

The consecutive victories provide AFP with vital momentum and leverage as the battle for top positioning in the second round heats up.

Leading the charge once again was star forward Michael Bañaria, who dropped a team-high 22 points to earn his second consecutive Best Player of the Game award. 

Bañaria anchor-played the offense with precision, knocking down timely buckets whenever the Health Insurers threatened to pull close. 

His back-to-back stellar performances have solidified his role as the engine driving the Cavaliers' playoff push.

Focused on the ultimate goal as AFP marches into the quarterfinals round, Bañaria pledged to leave everything on the court for his team. 

"Ibibigay ko lang po lahat ng best ko sa team, sa mga teammate ko rin po. Ibibigay ko lahat 100% sa laro po sa loob," Bañaria stated after the game, reaffirming his dedication to propel the Cavaliers deeper into UNTV Cup Season 12.

‍