MALACAÑANG halted Philippine National Police’s three-game winning run with a 75-71 win, even as defending champion Judiciary finally barged into the win column in the 4th UNTV Cup held recently at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Poch Junio shot four of his 10 points at crunch time to lift the Patriots, last year’s runner-up, and deal the Responders their first defeat.
Malacañang tied PNP for the lead at 3-1 with Samuel Ignacio and Visnu Das Javier also delivering 16 and 13 points, respectively.
In Group B, Judiciary outlasted Office of the Ombudsman, 89-83, while Bureau of Fire Protection scraped past Metro Manila Development Authority, 77-71.
Jose Marquez led the Judiciary Magis with 20 points but it was former pro Warren Ybañez who made the difference, scoring 14 of his 19 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field in the fourth period to hand the Graft Busters their second straight defeat in as many outings.
Mon Adolfo topscored for the Fire Fighters with 21 points as BFF took solo second in its group.