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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