Jasha Gamao

MANILA—The COMELEC Vanguards pulled off a stunning last-minute recovery to overturn the game and capture a hard-fought 76-71 victory over the PhilHealth Health Insurers in the UNTV Cup Season 12 eliminations on May 24, at the Paco Arena.

Facing a relentless PhilHealth squad, COMELEC shifted into high gear during the final minutes to erase the deficit and escape with a critical win.

Rookie standout Marios Ryan Martinez proved to be the ultimate catalyst for the Vanguards, anchoring the team's late-game surge with an assertive double-digit scoring performance. 

Martinez claimed Best Player of the Game honors after filling the stat sheet with an impressive 18 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. 

His offensive aggressiveness inside the paint completely unlocked the PhilHealth defense when it mattered most, fueling the game-winning run.

Despite struggling with their outside shots for most of the match, the Vanguards anchored their comeback on pure defensive grit and relentless hustle. 

"Nag-focus lang talaga kami sa depensa kahit walang-wala kami sa shooting, tinrabaho namin yung depensa hanggang fourth hindi kami nag-give up," Martinez said after the game. 

This lockdown mentality allowed COMELEC to shut down the Health Insurers in transition and successfully secure their third victory this season.

MANILA—The DOJ Radiance staged a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback to secure their first victory of UNTV Cup Season 12, edging past the Senate Defenders, 70-66, on May 24, at the Paco Arena.

The Senate Defenders dictated the tempo early on, controlling the game from the opening tip through the third period and building a comfortable double-digit cushion early in the final quarter. 

Refusing to back down, the Radiance ignited a furious late-game rally, putting on a defensive masterclass and executing timely offensive plays to erase the deficit and pull off a stunning comeback.

Lester Dela Cruz spearheaded the DOJ fightback, putting up a stellar performance to earn Best Player of the Game honors. 

Dela Cruz anchored the Radiance with 24 points, while adding 2 rebounds and 5 assists to complete the dramatic turnaround. 

His scoring outburst and steady playmaking in crunch time proved to be the perfect antidote to the Defenders' early dominance.

Following the hard-fought triumph, Dela Cruz credited their defensive adjustments and preparation for stopping the Defenders' final desperation plays. 

"Sinabi lang po ni Coach Jerry na ready kami sa kickout nila kasi obviously naman mag-3 points sila," Dela Cruz shared, highlighting the team’s discipline in shutting down the perimeter. 

With the victory, DOJ Radiance successfully breaks into the win column, establishing a crucial momentum shift moving forward in the tournament.

PASAY CITY—The Senate scrambled to balance a packed legislative agenda during its plenary session on May 20, racing against the clock as the First Regular Session of the 20th Congress barrels toward its sine die adjournment. 

Lawmakers rushed to reshuffle their calendars to make room for critical priority bills while braceing for the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. 

Following the intense session, senators immediately huddled in an all-member caucus to hammer out a final, compressed legislative schedule for the remaining days.

Tensions also flared on the floor as several senators took turns addressing a recent controversial security incident inside the Senate building. 

Amid the debates, the chamber pressed forward with a major leadership overhaul under newly installed Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano. 

The reorganization aimed to stabilize the chamber's leadership and streamline committee operations before Congress officially goes on break.

The political shuffling culminated in the election of new chairpersons for key permanent standing committees. 

Senator Pia Cayetano now takes the helm of the powerful Blue Ribbon Committee, while Senator Imee Marcos retains clout over the Committee on Foreign Relations. 

Senator Camille Villar secured a dual leadership role over both the Environment and Government Corporations panels, Senator Robinhood Padilla took over Constitutional Amendments, and Senator Rodante Marcoleta was tapped to lead the Justice committee alongside a crucial seat on the Judicial and Bar Council.

PASAY CITY—The Philippine Senate unanimously adopted Resolution No. 47 on May 20 to officially commend the Philippine national barebow archery team for their historic performance at the Malaysia 2026 Asia Barebow Championship. 

Led by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, the upper chamber rallied behind the athletes who secured the country’s first-ever gold medal alongside bronze finishes at the regional tournament in Selangor, Malaysia, which concluded earlier this month.

Senator Robinhood Padilla sponsored the resolution, taking to the plenary floor to personally recognize each member of the national squad. 

In an emotional address, Padilla praised the archers' grit and focus, highlighting how their historic victory proves that Filipino talent and discipline stand unmatched on the international stage. 

"Isang makasaysayang panalo na nagpapatunay na ang galing, tapang, disiplina, at determinasyon ng Pilipino ay walang katumbas…pinatunayan nila na ang pusong Pinoy ay hindi sumusuko.” Senator Padilla stated, celebrating the team’s unyielding spirit.

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, chairperson of the Committee on Sports, strongly backed the resolution and emphasized the broader impact of the team's success on the nation's athletic landscape. 

Go declared the milestone a proud moment for the entire country, noting that the triumph elevates not just Philippine archery, but the status of Philippine sports as a whole.

“This achievement is a proud moment, not only for Philippine archery, but for Philippine sports as a whole,” Senator Go said.

The preliminary round of the UNTV Volleyball League Season 4 has officially wrapped up through the May 20 games shaking up the leaderboard right at the finish line. 

The BFP Lady Firefighters successfully seized the coveted number one seed, capitalizing on a fateful slip-up by the PhilHealth Health Insurers, who dropped an intense matchup against the surging COMELEC Suffragettes. 

Despite both powerhouse teams concluding the eliminations with identical 8-1 records, BFP claimed the top spot in the standings, while the PNP Lady Patrollers settled firmly in third with a 7-2 slate.

By locking in the top two seeds, both the BFP Lady Firefighters and the PhilHealth Health Insurers secure a crucial twice-to-beat advantage heading into the quarterfinals. 

The stakes get significantly higher for the rest of the field, as the remaining matchups transition into high-pressure, do-or-die knockout games. 

Based on the final standings, the fourth-seeded COMELEC Suffragettes (6-3) will have to defend their position, while the NHA Home Masters (5-4) and AFP Lady Gunnar (5-4) sit right in the middle pack. 

Meanwhile, the Pag-IBIG Fund Lady Smashers sneaked through with a 3-6 record and the DFA Emissaries with their 2-7 record will still live to fight another day.

Unfortunately, both rookie teams this season, the DENR Lawin Spikers and MMDA Lady Spikers were officially eliminated this season.

The highly anticipated Quarterfinals action kicks off on May 27, 2026, live at the Paco Arena in Manila. 

Opening the double-header at 12:00 NN (Game 1) is a David-and-Goliath clash between the seventh-seeded Pag-IBIG Fund Lady Smashers and the twice-to-beat PhilHealth Health Insurers. 

Immediately following at 2:00 PM (Game 2), the COMELEC Suffragettes will lock horns with the NHA Home Masters in what promises to be an explosive knockout match. 

UVL fans can catch every single spike and block by watching live at the venue, or by tuning in online via the official livestream on the UNTV Sports Facebook and YouTube channels!