MANILA—The COMELEC Vanguards pulled off a stunning last-minute recovery to overturn the game and capture a hard-fought 76-71 victory over the PhilHealth Health Insurers in the UNTV Cup Season 12 eliminations on May 24, at the Paco Arena.

Facing a relentless PhilHealth squad, COMELEC shifted into high gear during the final minutes to erase the deficit and escape with a critical win.

Rookie standout Marios Ryan Martinez proved to be the ultimate catalyst for the Vanguards, anchoring the team's late-game surge with an assertive double-digit scoring performance. 

Martinez claimed Best Player of the Game honors after filling the stat sheet with an impressive 18 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. 

His offensive aggressiveness inside the paint completely unlocked the PhilHealth defense when it mattered most, fueling the game-winning run.

Despite struggling with their outside shots for most of the match, the Vanguards anchored their comeback on pure defensive grit and relentless hustle. 

"Nag-focus lang talaga kami sa depensa kahit walang-wala kami sa shooting, tinrabaho namin yung depensa hanggang fourth hindi kami nag-give up," Martinez said after the game. 

This lockdown mentality allowed COMELEC to shut down the Health Insurers in transition and successfully secure their third victory this season.