The AFP Cavaliers drew first blood in the UNTV Cup Season 12 best-of-three finals after outlasting the Ombudsman GraftBusters, 107-101 in overtime, at the Paco Arena in Manila on Sunday.

AFP came out aggressive and quickly built a double-digit cushion, ending the first quarter ahead, 33-22.

The GraftBusters answered in the second period and trimmed the deficit to eight points by halftime, 54-46.

Ombudsman continued to chip away at AFP’s lead in the third quarter, cutting it to just one point, 64-63, with more than a minute left in the period.

The game tightened further in the fourth quarter.

With less than nine minutes remaining, Ombudsman’s Trinidad knocked down a three-pointer to tie the game at 69-all.

Both teams traded baskets and matched each other down the stretch, sending the game into overtime after regulation ended at 90-all.

The GraftBusters briefly grabbed the advantage in the extra period, but the Cavaliers regained control in the closing minutes and finished strong to secure the 107-101 victory.

The win gave AFP a 1-0 lead in the championship series, putting the Cavaliers one victory away from the UNTV Cup Season 12 title.

Meanwhile, the PNP Responders secured third place after defeating the Office of the President Bagong Pilipinas, 78-72.

Bagong Pilipinas controlled the first half and went into the break with a 40-35 lead.

PNP, however, found its rhythm in the fourth quarter, connecting on key two-point and three-point baskets to take over the game and pull away in the closing stretch.

The Responders held on until the final buzzer to close their Season 12 campaign with the third-place finish.

Aside from the podium finish, PNP earned P500,000 in prize money for its chosen beneficiary, reinforcing the UNTV Cup’s mission of turning every win on the basketball court into support for charitable causes.

AFP now carries the advantage into the next game of the best-of-three championship series, while Ombudsman looks to force a deciding Game 3.

Through competitive basketball and charity, the UNTV Cup continues its advocacy: Win in sports, win for charity.