MANILA—The DENR Lawin Patrollers unleashed a furious fourth-quarter charge to stun the COMELEC Vanguards, 87-84, in a thriller during the UNTV Cup Season 12 second round elimination on August 5. 

Behind relentless energy and tactical composure, the Patrollers chipped away at the Vanguards’ lead before landing the decisive blow down the stretch. 

The heartbreaking defeat dealt a major blow to COMELEC, tumbling them down from the third spot to fifth place in the team standings.

Anchoring DENR’s late-game surge was Federico Alupani, who delivered a stellar performance to earn Best Player of the Game honors. 

Alupani dropped 16 points and grabbed 7 rebounds, displaying exceptional discipline and determination to lift his squad across the finish line. 

“Sabi ni Coach, laruin lang po namin yung best namin, go hard lang sa laro tapos ibigay lang namin yung 100% namin kaya inunti-unti namin ibaba yung lamang hanggang fourth quarter,” Alupani shared after the game, emphasizing his commitment to execute the game plan and contribute directly to the team's victory.

Despite the emotional win, the road ends early for DENR in Season 12. Holding a 3-5 win-loss record, the Lawin Patrollers have officially lost their chance to advance to the quarterfinal phase. 

Nevertheless, they look to end their season campaign on a high note when they face off against the formidable, second-ranked Ombudsman Graftbusters in their final matchup on August 9, 2026.

On the flip side, the COMELEC Vanguards still control their own destiny with a playoff spot within reach. 

They are set for a high-stakes, head-to-head showdown on August 9, 2026 against OP Bagong Pilipinas, where both squads will collide with everything on the line to secure their place in the postseason picture.

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