Duremdes leads Senate to victory in UNTV Cup

Player-coach Kenneth Duremdes recalled the years of his glorious PBA career by leading Senate to an 81-71 win over National Housing Authority even as Bureau of Fire Protection handed reigning champion Judiciary its second straight defeat in the 4th UNTV Cup held last week at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

A former MVP winner in the pro league, Duremdes knocked in 8 of his 18 points in the second quarter that saw the Defenders outscore the Builders, 25-11, for a 52-36 halftime lead.

The Builders, who shocked the Judiciary Magis in the opener, 76-56, never recovered from that assault and suffered their first defeat in Group A of the tournament designed by UNTV CEO and president Daniel Razon for the country’s public servants.

Marlon Legaspi then took over in the final half to finish with a team-high 28 points on an impressive 11-of14 shooting from the field aside from grabbing 14 rebounds, six of them offensively.

The Firefighters, on the other hand, leaned on the 24-point effort of Marlon Adolfo to down the Magis, 9180, for a 1-1 record in Group B. In the other game, House of Representatives spoiled the debut of Ombudsman, 78-74, through the 32-point performance of Kiko Adriano – another player with PBA experience.

BFP, which lost to Armed Forces of the Philippines last week, 74-70, trailed the Don Camaso-led Judiciary, 20-12, at the end of the first quarter but Adolfo led the team’s 28 point explosion in the second quarter to grab the lead for good, 50-39.

The tournament offers R2 million to the champion with the prize going to the team’s chosen charity.