MALACAÑANG drew big games from former University of the Philippines star Jenkins Mesina and Andro Requez and downed erstwhile unbeaten Armed Forces of the Philippines, 85-75, at the start of the crossover second round of the 4th UNTV Cup at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City recently.
With Mesinas and Requez at the helm, the Malacañang Patriots closed out the first half with a 6-0 run to take a 43-34 lead, which they padded to 75-55 early in the payoff period en route to snapping AFP’s five-game win run.
The win enabled the Bong Ramos-mentored Patriots to seize the Group A lead with a 4-2 mark.
In Group B, Bureau of Fire Protection nipped Senate, 74-72, for a share of top spot with AFP at 5-1.
Mesina led the Patriots with 15 points on 7-of-7 shooting from the free throw area aside pulling down five rebounds. Requez backed him up with 12 points.
In the other game, Jeffrey Sanders unloaded 32 points as Metro Manila Development Authority edged National Housing Authority, 78-76, to improve to 4-2 in Group B.