Jasha Gamao

MANILA—The AFP Cavaliers set a high tone in their UNTV Cup Season 12 playoff run, outgunning the PNP Responders, 71-64, in Game 1 of their best-of-three semifinal series on August 26 at the Paco Arena. 

Displaying their trademark intensity and high-octane offense early on, the Cavaliers asserted control from the opening tip to draw first blood in the crucial series.

Michael Bañaria spearheaded the offense for AFP, locked and loaded from start to finish to take home Best Player of the Game honors. 

Bañaria delivered an all-around masterpiece, racking up 21 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 5 steals, constantly disrupting the Responders' backcourt and fueling crucial transition opportunities for his squad.

Anchored by relentless pressure on the floor, the Cavaliers transformed defensive stops into decisive momentum. 

Speaking after his stellar performance, Bañaria emphasized the defensive identity instilled by their technical bench: "Yun po yung palaging sinasabi ng coaching staff namin, hard work lang po, defense, darating din ang opensa at saka yun po yung lagi kong sinasabi, one game at a time po."

With the 1-0 series advantage firmly in hand, AFP moves within a single victory of securing a spot in the finals. 

Meanwhile, the PNP Responders face an urgent do-or-die situation this coming Sunday, needing an immediate bounce-back win to force a decisive tie-breaker and keep their championship hopes alive.

MANILA—The COMELEC Vanguards capped off their UNTV Cup Season 12 campaign on a high note, outlasting the Judiciary Magis in a thrilling 107-103 overtime victory during their Quarterfinal clash on August 19 at the Paco Arena. 

Both squads pushed their limits through a grueling battle, delivering an intense finish to their tournament run despite facing elimination from the postseason standings.

Marios Martinez spearheaded COMELEC's attack, turning in a stellar performance that earned him Best Player of the Game honors. 

Martinez dominated the court, dropping 33 points while grabbing 5 rebounds and dishing out 5 assists to lift the Vanguards past their opponents in extra time. 

His explosive scoring and floor generalship proved decisive in securing the hard-fought win.

Reflecting on the hard-earned victory and their overall journey, Martinez expressed deep gratitude and heart for their supporters and chosen cause. 

"Para sa inyo ‘tong laro namin kaya pasensya na ‘yon lang yung kaya namin," Martinez shared in a post-game interview, dedicating the squad’s fighting spirit and relentless effort directly to their designated charity beneficiary.

Although the win marks a graceful exit for both the COMELEC Vanguards and the Judiciary Magis this season, the Vanguards remain resolute and optimistic about their future. 

With heads held high, COMELEC leaves the tournament committed to coming back stronger and making an even deeper run in the next season of the public service league.

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MANILA—The stakes have never been higher as the UNTV Cup Season 12 Semifinals kick off on August 26, 2026, live from the iconic Paco Arena. Four powerhouse teams remain, but only two will punch their ticket to the ultimate championship stage. 

Operating under an unforgiving single round-robin format, every single match becomes a critical must-win battle where every team faces off against each other. 

There is zero room for error; one slip-up could cost these government public servants the ultimate glory of lifting the trophy for their respective agencies and delivering millions in prize money to their chosen charities.

The opening clash at 3:00 PM pits Armed Forces against Law enforcement in a blockbuster showdown between the AFP Cavaliers and the PNP Responders. 

The Cavaliers bring their trademark military discipline, physical dominance on the glass, and relentless transition offense. 

On the other end, the PNP Responders counter with high-octane perimeter shot-making, tenacious full-court defense, and clutch veteran leadership. 

Both multi-titled franchises know each other’s tendencies inside out, guaranteeing a physical, down-to-the-wire warfare where bragging rights and early semifinal control are on the line.

At 4:30 PM, Game 2 ignites as the Ombudsman Graftbusters collide with OP Bagong Pilipinas. 

Ombudsman brings a methodical, highly disciplined half-court offense built on tactical execution, stingy defense, and fearless interior play. 

Meanwhile, OP Bagong Pilipinas relies on swift ball movement, deep bench depth, and fast-break scoring that can blow games open in a flash. 

Expect a high-stakes tactical chess match between Ombudsman's grinding defense and OP’s explosive offensive tempo.

Beyond the silver cups and agency pride, every basket scored inside the arena carries deep emotional weight for the beneficiaries relying on these public servants' triumph. 

Don't miss out on the heart-pounding action live! 

Head over to the Paco Arena to feel the high-voltage atmosphere in person, or catch the live broadcast on all UNTV Sports social media channels via Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. 

Rally behind your favorite agency and support the one and only Sports and Charity league!

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PASAY CITY—The Senate of the Philippines took immediate action on August 24, targeting the disturbing surge in school violence and expanding safeguards for children both on campus and online. 

Lawmakers actively tackled crucial measures, including the upcoming sponsorship of the proposed School Safety Act to combat campus bullying, debates on stricter anti-child online sexual abuse legislation, and the expansion of the national child nutrition program.  

Addressing recent violent campus incidents in Tacloban City and Zamboanga City, Senate President Win Gatchalian cautioned against the potential mental health risks of holding active-shooter simulations in academic institutions. 

Following these concerns, the Department of Education (DepEd) deferred its planned nationwide live-shooter drills. 

Expressing support for a careful review of the safety exercises, Gatchalian emphasized, "Dapat pong mapag-aralang mabuti."  

Basic Education Committee Chairperson Sen. Bam Aquino urged his colleagues to accelerate the passage of the School Safety Act, advocating for a whole-of-nation framework that unites government agencies, educators, and families. 

Highlighting the complexity of campus violence, Aquino urged, "It takes a community to raise a child. It also takes multiple bills and reforms to address this issue."  

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano raised critical psychological concerns, urging the government to get to the root cause of student violence rather than relying on poorly planned responses that could inflict further trauma. 

He proposed running community town halls with teachers, parents, mental health experts, and spiritual leaders while DepEd reviews active attack protocols, pointing out, “Let’s find the cancer, what is moving the students to this.”

Turning to student welfare, Sen. Raffy Tulfo pushed to expand the national school feeding program to cover every learner from Kindergarten to Grade 6, arguing that universal coverage eliminates social stigma and guarantees nutrition for all. 

Pushing for an inclusive approach during plenary debates on Senate Bill No. 2272, Tulfo stated, “Hindi ba mas maganda na across the board, basta estudyante ka sa school na ‘yan, from Kindergarten hanggang sa Grade 6, libreng pagkain na lang.”

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MANILA—The AFP Cavaliers completed a flawless quarterfinal sweep in UNTV Cup Season 12, overpowering OP Bagong Pilipinas, 97-87, at the Paco Arena on August 19, 2026.

AFP dominated the high-stakes clash from start to finish, maintaining their composure and executing tight offensive plays to secure their third straight win in the quarterfinals round.

Paulino Rebollos took charge as the Best Player of the Game, putting on an offensive clinic with 21 points and 5 assists. 

Rebollos effectively directed the Cavaliers' tempo, orchestrating clutch possessions and delivering key baskets whenever OP Bagong Pilipinas attempted to rally back.

Reflecting on their stellar run, Rebollos pointed to their continuous game rhythm as the core engine behind their momentum.

 "As of now Ma’am, mataas yung kumpyansa namin na maipapanalo namin yung games namin gawa ng mas marami kaming nilalarong games ngayon kesa sa ibang mga team," Rebollos shared in a post-game interview, highlighting the team's supreme confidence heading into the knockout stages.

With their quarterfinal record unblemished, the AFP Cavaliers charge into the semifinal round riding high morale. They now prepare for a heavyweight battle against the PNP Responders in their first semifinal game scheduled for August 26, 2026.

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