DARWIN CORDERO sparked a furious second quarter breakaway as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Cavaliers demolished the Judiciary Magis, 79-63, to rule the 9th UNTV Cup via a two-game sweep of the finals Sunday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Up by just four at the end of the opening quarter, the Cavaliers—starring Cordero, Boyet Bautista and Jerry Lumongsod—outscored the Magis, 27-15, in the next period to rip the game apart for another dominant performance in the tournament exclusive for the country’s public servants.
The title was the fourth for the Cavaliers in five finals appearances, a feat that rewarded their chosen charity a tax-free P3 million prize through the initiative of Breakthrough and Milestones Productions International CEO and President Daniel “Kuya Daniel” Razon.
Razon, along with Commissioner Atoy Co, BMPI-UNTV Vice President Gerry Panghulan and BMPI-UNTV General Manager Jay Eusebio, presented the championship trophy to the Cavaliers.
The institution chosen by the Magis will receive P2 million while that of third placer NHA and fourth placer PNP will get P1 million and P500,000, respectively. The other chosen charities were handed P200,000 each.
Cordero, who also starred in their 81-74 win in Game 1, finished with 25 points, nine rebounds and five assists to and was named the Finals MVP. Judiciary’s Chester Tolomia was the season MVP.
Cordero and Tolomia were also part of the Mythical Selection along with Lumongsod, OP-PMS’ Kenneth Aljard and DENR’s Ed Rivera.
Tolomia also copped the Scoring Champion award while other individual achievers were OP-PMS’ Paul Carbajal (Defensive Player) and Judiciary’s Richard Litonjua (Step-up Player).
