Senate Defenders Win Over HOR Solons, Kenneth Duremdes Emerged as Best Player of the Game

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The Senate Defenders grabbed the 1st victory as they won 83-72 in a 9-point deficit over the House of Representatives Solons. Kenneth Duremdes from the Defenders emerged as the dominating player that earned him the title "Best Player of the Game" while Neil Tupas was the top scorer from the opposing team.

The UNTV Cup is a one of a kind basketball league, composed of the different departments of the Philippine government namely the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Department of Justice, Congress, Senate, Judiciary, Philhealth, Metro Manila Development Authority, Malacanang, and other LGUs. Each team has their own beneficiary who will take the 1 Million Pesos Grand Prize for the team who will win the championship, and 500,000 Pesos for the 1st Runner-Up.

Now on its second season, the games are expected to be a lot more grueling yet more fun and exciting to watch as we witness different government agencies battle it out against each other competing in the Philippines' favorite sport: basketball.

The opening ceremonies started off with a ceremonial toss by Mr. Public Service Daniel Razon, the CEO of UNTV. UNTV Cup Commissioner and former PBA legend Atoy Co later revealed that Season 3 is already in the drawing board. Bro. Eli Soriano of Ang Dating Daan also gave an inspirational speech before the start of the game.

The teams were then presented as DOJ Avengers, AFP Cavaliers, MMDA Black Wolves, Malacañang Patriots, House of Representative Solons, Senate Defenders, Philhealth Advocates, PNP Responders, etc.,

Broadcasting the play-by-play of the first game between the House of Representatives Solons versus the Seante Defenders were PBA legends Ronnie Magsanoc, Jerry Codiñera with Sev Sarmenta.

Below is a well-written coverage of Wazzup Pilipinas correspondent Ivan Stewart Saldejano who witnessed the opening ceremonies of UNTV Cup Season 2 and the first game between the players of the two powerful houses of the government.

"Former PBA MVP Kenneth Duremdes showed that he still got game at 40. The newly-appointed Adamson Soaring Falcons coach sizzled for a game-high 36 points as the Senate Defenders beat the House of Representatives Solons, 83-74, in the season opener of the 2nd UNTV Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Duremdes actually had a near triple-double as he added ten rebounds and nine assists to go along with four steals to lead the way for the Defenders, one of three expansion clubs to spice up the second staging of the said tournament, which aims at promoting physical fitness and public service among vital government units.

The Solons, another expansion club, played gallantly despite having only seven players suited up, keeping it up with the Defenders for most of the game. The Solons even had a 42-41 lead at the half.

HOR, however, lost steam in the end as Duremdes and fellow ex-PBA player Samuel Marata ignited a late Senate rally to pull away for good.

Marata added 15 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals for the Defenders even as Domingo Basaysay came off the bench to score nine. Sen. Sonny Angara is also part of the Senate roster and finished with seven points.

Cong. Neil Tupas led HOR with 22 points off six three-pointers. Ex-PBA veterans Arnold Gamboa, with 21 points and 12 rebounds, and Gerald Francisco, who had 11 points and 12 rebounds of his own, each tallied a double-double to help lead the Solons, who were also without head coach Cong. Yeng Guiao, who is busy preparing Rain Or Shine for its upcoming PBA Philippine Cup Finals campaign."

Senate Defender team player Senator Angara Twitter account "Angara ng Pinoy"  posted the photos above via Twitter.


Boxscores:

Senate 83-Duremdes 36, Marata 15, Basaysay 9, Angara 7, Endaya 4, Andaya 2, Cabador 2, Tan 2, Dascil 2, Golding 0, Diño 0, Diamzon 0, Ganal 0, Ong 0

HOR 74-Tupas 22, Gamboa 21, Guinto 16, Francisco 11, Siriban 4, Alvarez 0, Cayaba 0

Quarterscores: 20-20, 41-42, 62-55, 83-74

Contributed by Ivan Stewart Saldajeno


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