National Housing Authority kept its flickering semis hopes alive by snapping Senate’s four-game winning run with an 89-82 overtime win, while PITC handed Malacañang-Philippine Sports Commission its fourth straight defeat in the 7th UNTV Cup held over the weekend at the Pasig City Sports Center.
Through the efforts of Antonio Lustestica, Alvin Vitug and Marvin Mercado, the NHA Builders took charge early, enabling the NHA Builders to dictate the tempo before the reigning champions Defenders made a gallant comeback in the third.
Exploiting the absence of Senators Joel Villanueva and Sonny Angara, the Bennet Palad-mentored Builders made a decisive run at the start of the extra period to book their second straight win in the single-round quarterfinals.
The PITC Global Traders likewise revived their own semis bid by downing the Kamao, 89-85, in the annual tournament designed for public servants and organized by UNTV president and CEO Daniel Razon.
Despite the loss, the Defenders of coach Mike Fermin remained on top of the standings with a 7-4 mark, while NHA, PITC and Malacañang were tied for second to fourth places with 6-5 records.
The top two finishers after the quarters will join early semifinalists Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police in the Final Four which is a best-of-three affair.
Lustestica led NHA with 22 points, four rebounds and two assists, while Vitug and Mercardo wound up with 19 and 18 points, respectively. Garri Sevilla, who forced the extra five minutes, paced Senate with 32 points.
Haddi Porto expectedly led the Global Traders with 21 points, while Ryan Regaldo and Rod Vasallo had 19 points each in another splendid show by the team’s Big 3.
The chosen charity of the champion team gets P4 million.