Judiciary, PITC gain momentum in UNTV

Judiciary and Philippine International Trading Corp bested their respective rivals and advanced to the crossover second round of the 8th UNTV Cup over the weekend at the Pasig City Sports Center.

The two-time champion Judiciary Magis leaned on the solid all-around game of former PBA player Warren Ybanez to beat the Philippine National Police Responders, 78-72, and take the fourth and last second-round berth in Groub B elims with a 2-3 record.

With the win, the Magis joined unbeaten Department of Environment and Natural Resources (5-0), Malacañang-Philippine Sports Commission (4-1) and National Housing Authority (3-2) in the second round of the tournament organized by UNTV president and CEO Daniel Razon for public servants.

The PITC Global Traders, on the other hand, clobbered the Ombudsman Graftbusters, 87-70, in Group A to likewise march into the second round with a 3-2 mark.

Advancing earlier from Group A are defending champion Armed Forces of the Philippines (5-0), Dept. of Agriculture and the PhilHealth Plus.

Five Judiciary players scored in double figures with Regilito Malinao knocking in 13 while Ybanez and two others chipped in 12 points each. The PBA veteran also had six rebounds and five assists.

Leading PITC was former Letran player Aloysius Taplah, who scattered 26 points apart from pulling down three rebounds.

In the second round, Group A teams face Group B teams in a single round with the top two teams claiming outright semis berths while the bottom two will be eliminated.

The third to sixth finishers play another round with the best two placers marching into the semis.