Jasha Gamao

SAN JUAN—The GSIS Furies recorded their first conquest of the season after outlasting the Judiciary Magis in a nail-biting showdown, 62-59, at the Playtime FilOil Centre on September 27, 2026. 

Headlining the opening game of a thrilling triple-header, the Furies executed crucial defensive stops in the final stretch to secure the hard-fought victory.  

The victory marks a pivotal turnaround for the GSIS Furies as they snapped their early-season slump and logged their first win. 

Meanwhile, the loss dealt a sudden blow to the Judiciary Magis, halting their momentum and handing them their first defeat after opening the tournament with two straight wins.  

Michael Nuyana anchored the Furies’ offense, earning Best Player of the Game honors with an explosive stat line. 

Nuyana converted 25 big points, grabbed 7 rebounds, dished out 2 assists, and recorded 4 steals, single-handedly disrupting the Magis' rhythm throughout the contest.  

A veteran of the UNTV Cup Regular Season, Nuyana made an immediate impact in his Executive Face Off debut. 

Returning to official league play following a prolonged break since the pandemic, he reflected on the team's preparation: “Yung past few weeks namin nagpa-practice kami so shino-show sa amin yung mga play, defense, and all-around. So, maganda yung naging outcome ngayon.”  

With this victory, the GSIS Furies build momentum moving deeper into the tournament schedule, while the Judiciary Magis look to regroup and rebuild their winning streak in their upcoming fixtures.

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MANILA—The AFP Cavaliers executed a masterclass in tactical basketball to turn back the Senate Sentinels, 82-74, in the third game of the UNTV Cup Executive Face Off 2026 triple-header on September 23, 2026, at the Paco Arena. Displaying relentless precision from start to finish, the Cavaliers fended off every run by the Sentinels to secure their third consecutive victory and remain flawless in the elimination round.  

The setback marks a troubling trend for the Senate Sentinels, who suffered their second straight loss in as many games. Struggles with early-game rhythm and consistency continue to plague Senate as they search for answers early in the tournament, falling to a 0-2 record.  

Reigning Season and Finals MVP Captain Paul Carbajal propelled the Cavaliers with a monster performance to earn Best Player of the Game honors. 

Carbajal dominated the paint and anchored both ends of the floor, tallying a staggering double-double of 30 points and 28 rebounds to prove why he remains the heartbeat of the squad.  

Despite his individual brilliance and the team's winning streak, Carbajal insisted the squad still has plenty of work ahead to refine their synergy. “I-adjust namin yung mga dapat i-adjust, sobrang nahirapan kami na parang bagong team lang kami. So, yun siguro more practice and adjustment,” Carbajal said in his post-game interview.

Sitting comfortably at the top of the standings at 3-0, the AFP Cavaliers look to build on their momentum as the tournament heats up. 

Meanwhile, the Senate Sentinels face an urgent need to regroup, recalibrate, and secure a crucial win in their next outing to keep their postseason hopes alive.

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MANILA—The PNP Responders unleashed an aggressive, relentless attack against the Ombudsman Graftbusters, securing a hard-fought 57-50 victory in the elimination round of the UNTV Cup Executive Face Off 2026. 

Held at the Paco Arena on September 23, 2026, the intense showdown saw PNP extend their winning streak to two games, solidifying their standing in the tournament.

It was a tough pill to swallow for the Ombudsman Graftbusters, who were looking to build momentum coming off an impressive win against the BIR Nation Builders in their previous outing. 

Despite Graftbusters' energetic effort, PNP's persistent physical pressure and tactical execution late in the game ultimately dictated the pace and closed the door on any potential comeback.

Philippine National Police Colonel Joel De Mesa spearheaded the squad's dominant performance, taking home Best Player of the Game honors after delivering a stellar all-around stat line of 17 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals. 

De Mesa set the intensity early on both ends of the floor, creating critical scoring opportunities while frustrating the opposition with key defensive stops.

In his post-game interview, Colonel De Mesa emphasized that the cornerstone of their victory was the team's defensive-first mindset instilled by their coaching staff. 

“Ang pinaka-importante naman lagi sa laro is defense. So, kung maganda yung depensa namin susunod nalang yung offense. Yun lagi yung sinasabi ng coaching staff namin na yung defense lang talaga ang improve namin lagi dagil yung offense susunod nalang yan doon sa laro,” De Mesa said in the post game interview.

With this crucial win, the PNP Responders maintain an unblemished record early in the tournament and continue to establish themselves as serious title contenders. 

The Graftbusters, meanwhile, will look to recalibrate their game plan and bounce back strong in their next elimination round appearance.

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MANILA—The BJMP Greyhounds delivered a resounding message in the elimination round of the UNTV Cup Executive Face Off 2026, dismantling the BIR Nation Builders with a commanding 90-65 victory. 

The game, held on September 23, 2026, at the Paco Arena, served as the explosive opener of an action-packed triple-header. The win allowed BJMP to rebound strongly after their previous loss to the DOJ Radiance, while handing BIR their second straight loss of the season.  

Fueling this dominant performance was Best Player of the Game Jail Superintendent Jessie James Gingoyon, who spearheaded the assault with an all-around stat line of 18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals. 

His exceptional commitment on both ends of the floor choked the Nation Builders' rhythm early and set the tone for the entire match.  

Crediting the rapid development of their team chemistry, Gingoyon highlighted how the squad's attendance paid off on the court: “Very grateful kami sa teammates ko at sa aming coaching staff kasi napagbigyan kami ng isang magandang laban—isang magandang panalo then yung chemistry namin at least in a short span of time, na-develop and most of all halos kumpleto din kami din kami ngayon kaya na-maximize namin yung playing time namin.”

Beyond his stellar play, Gingoyon’s journey to the arena proved just as inspiring, as he shrugged off the personal expenses and sacrifices of flying directly from the province to Manila just to compete. 

His relentless drive underscored a profound commitment to his squad and the league that went far past the final scoreline.

When asked about his incredible efforts to play, Gingoyon emphasized that his drive is rooted in pure passion: “Because isa sa mga mottos ko in life is winning is just second to the love of game. Importante dyan is love namin yung game so regardless of economic na gastusin or financial, nasho-showcase namin yung skills and talent ng mga kasamahan namin.”

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SAN JUAN CITY—Proving once again that the true victory happens off the court, UNTV Cup Season 12 successfully distributed a massive total of ₱4.55 million in tax-free cash grants to the chosen beneficiaries of all participating government teams.

The iconic Sports and Charity basketball league, founded by Kuya Daniel Razon, capped off another stellar tournament by ensuring every agency's hard-fought campaign directly translated into life-changing support for public servants, employees, and marginalized sector beneficiaries.

Leading the charity haul were the newly crowned champions, the AFP Cavaliers, who secured the top grant of ₱2,000,000 for their chosen beneficiary, the AFP Educational Benefit System Office (AFPEBSO), aimed at funding the education of fallen soldiers' dependents.

Tournament runners-up Ombudsman Graftbusters earned ₱1,000,000 for the Ombudsman Provident Fund, while the third-place PNP Responders bagged ₱500,000 for the PNP OLC Foundation Inc.

Fourth-place finisher OP Bagong Pilipinas claimed ₱250,000 for the Malacañang Employees Cooperative.

Demonstrating the league's commitment that no team plays in vain, eight other participating government agencies each received a ₱100,000 grant for their respective causes.

These grants were awarded to the COMELEC Provident Fund (COMELEC Vanguards), Court Employees Severely Affected by Typhoons (Judiciary Magis), Child Protection Network (PhilHealth Health Insurers), Environmental Sports Inc. (DENR Lawin Patrollers), NHA Provident Fund Association Inc. (NHA Home Masters), Senate Spouses Foundation Inc. (Senate Defenders), DOJ Employee Association (DOJ Radiance), and Kapisanan ng mga Manggagawa ng GSIS (GSIS Furies).

The multi-million peso payout highlights the unique advocacy of the UNTV Cup, where athletic competition serves as a vehicle for meaningful social impact.

By turning every basket, block, and buzzer-beater into tangible financial aid, the league continues its decade-long tradition of blending sportsmanship with impactful public service across the nation.

WIN in SPORTS, WIN for CHARITY!

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