MANILA—The Judiciary Magis secured a thrilling, razor-thin 75-74 victory over the DENR Lawin Patrollers in UNTV Cup Season 12 on June 21, at the Paco Arena. 

The nail-biting win propels the Magis into the second round of eliminations with a dominant 4-1 win-loss record. 

Despite the heartbreaking defeat, the Lawin Patrollers will also move forward to the next round, squeezing through with a 2-3 standing.

Ariel Capus anchored the Magis' hard-fought campaign, earning the Player of the Game honors after delivering an explosive double-double performance. 

Capus dominated the paint to finish with 10 points and 13 rebounds. 

He took it upon himself to play all-out in their final first-round elimination assignment, executing crucial stops and crucial buckets to effectively handcuff the resilient DENR squad in the tight contest.

Reflecting on their hard-earned victory, Capus credited their rigorous preparations and strict adherence to their game plan. 

“Nag-prepare talaga kami para sa DENR. So, yung sistema ni Coach Gilbert sinunod lang namin tsaka hindi namin pinabayaan yung conditioning namin tsaka yung sistema maayos na maayos,” Capus said in a post-game interview.

With their systems locked in and momentum on their side, Judiciary now gears up for tougher battles ahead in the next phase of the tournament.

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