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Ang paghaharap ni 8th time division World Champion Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao at Timothy ‘The Desert Storm’ Bradley sa kanilang 2nd US Press Conference Tour para sa kanilang kanilang ikalawang laban na gaganapin sa Las Vegas sa April 02, 2014. (ERNESTO ‘Papas’ Fernandez Jr. / Photoville International)

NEW YORK CITY — Muling nagharap sa New World Stages building sa New York sina eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao at WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley Jr. para sa promotional tour ng kanilang sagupaan sa MGM Grand Garden Arena sa Las Vegas, Nevada.

Ayon kay Bradley, gusto niyang patunayan sa buong mundo na siya talaga ang nanalo sa una nilang pagsasagupa ni Pacquiao magdadalawang taon na ang nakalipas.

Magugunitang noong June 2012, naagaw ni Bradley ang WBO welterweight title sa pamamagitan ng kontrobersiyal na split decision.

Pahayag nito, “The first time around no one believed that I won that fight against Manny Pacquiao, but this second time around I have to make it more decisive in everybody’s eyes  including you guys, that I win this second fight.”

Tiniyak naman ni Pacquiao na ipakikita niyang muli ang kaniyang killer instinct sa nalalapit na laban kay Bradley.

Naunang pinatutsadahan ni Bradley na naging masyadong mabait si Pacquiao sa huling laban nito kay Brandon Rios noong Nobyembre ng nakaraang taon.

Pahayag ni Manny, “This time around I have to get it back and show that I still have that aggressive and killer instinct.”

Sinabi naman ng trainer na si Freddie Roach na makikita ni Bradley kung talagang wala na ngang killer instinct si Pacman.

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“Timothy Bradley says that Manny lost his killer instinct, we will see.” — Team Pacquiao’s Coach Freddie Roach. (AARON ROMERO / Photoville International / UNTV)

Samantala, kaugnay sa pinaka-aabangang sagupaang Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Junior, sinabi ni Top Rank founder at CEO Bob Arum na hindi magkakaroon ng katuparan ang paghaharap ng dalawa sa ring.

Ayon kay Bob Arum, “He doesn’t want to fight south paws, because south paws are contrary to his boxing style. And particularly doesn’t want to fight speedy south paws like Pacquiao. And for that reason, he’s not gonna fight Pacquiao. All of this stuff is for show. It’s like one demand after another demand. But like I told Manny, you can’t keep agreeing to the demands, because once you agree to one, there will be another one.”

Sinabi pa ng Top Rank CEO na malaking banta si Manny sa undefeated record ni Mayweather.

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“Pacquiao is really a threat to Floyd’s undefeated boxing record. The guy doesn’t wanna fight you, there’s nothing you can do about it.” — Top Rank CEO Bob Arum (AARON ROMERO / Photoville International / UNTV)

Kaugnay nito, tiniyak rin ni fighting-congressman na hindi makakaapekto sa kanyang pageensayo ang kanyang tungkulin sa kamara.

“Time management lang, lahat naman magagawa natin basta i-manage lang ang ating time,” saad ni Manny.

Inaasahang babalik ng Pilipinas si Manny sa Sabado para mag-ensayo, at pagkatapos ay magtutungo na ito sa Wild Card Gym sa Los Angeles, California para mag-ensayo. (Aaron Romero / Ruth Navales, UNTV News)

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Ang pagbubukas ng ikalawang season ng UNTV Cup nitong Martes ng gabi sa SMART-ARANETA Coliseum. (RODEL LUMIARES / Photoville International)

MANILA, Philippines — Opisyal nang ipinakilala nitong Martes ang sampung koponan na kalahok sa ikalawang yugto ng UNTV Cup (Ang Bagong Game Ko) sa Smart Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City.

Kabilang sa mga magtatagisan sa hard court ang Team Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Justice (DOJ), Supreme Court (SC), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Philhealth, House of Representatives, Senate, LGU’s at team Malacanang.

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Ang PNP Responders kasama ang kanilang mascots na sina PO1 MAGALANG at PO1 MALINIS at representatives ng kanilang chosen beneficiary. Bawat isang team ay pumarada kasama ang kanikanilang mga napiling paglalaanan ng panalo. (HERMES SINGSON/ Photoville International)

Round robin eliminations ang sistema ng laro, subalit sa pagkakataong ito ay hahatiin ang sampung koponan sa dalawang grupo. Ibig sabihin, makakalaban ng bawat koponan ang lahat ng teams sa grupo na kanilang kinabibilangan, at kung sino ang Top 4 ay siyang makakasama sa playoffs sa semi final round.

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Dumalo sa opening ceremony ang mga officials ng mga participating government agencies tulad ng Team Manager ng MMDA Black Wolves na si Chairman Francis Tolentino at iba pang MMDA officials na nasa courtside bilang pagsuporta sa kanilang players at sa UNTV Cup. (FREDERICK ALVIOR / Photoville International)

Ang Top 2 teams ang siyang maglalaban sa kampeonato ng UNTV Cup.

Bawat koponan ay may tigda-dalawang imports na mismong sila ang pumili.

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Ang mga laro sa UNTV Cup Season 2 ay inaasahang mas magiging maganda sa pagkakaroon ng bawat team ng 2 imports o reinforcements mula sa labas ng kanilang ahensya. Karamihan ng mga nakuha ng mga team ay ang mga retiradong PBA players. Ang depending champion naman na team Judiciary ay pinanatili si celebrity player John Hall na nakatulong sa kanila nang malaki upang mag-champion noong unang season. (ROVIC BALUNSAY / Photoville International)

Senate Defenders, tinalo ang House of Representatives sa score na 83-74

Samantala, sa pagbubukas ng palaro, pinalad na mapiling magharap sa unang pagkakataon ang Team Senate at Team House of Representatives para sa first official game ng torneo.

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Kasama si UNTV Cup Commissioner Atoy Co, pinangunahan ni Mr. Public Service Kuya Daniel Razon ang ceremonial jumpball sa kaunaunahang laro ng season 2. (RODEL LUMIARES / Photoville International)

Unang pumukol ng score ang House of Representatives Solons sa pamamagitan ng three point shot ni Congressman Niel Tupas na agad ring tinapatan ng tres ni Senator Sonny Angara.

Tabla sa score na 20 ang first quarter.

Nagpakita ng triangle offense ang Senate Defenders na sinundan pa ng magagandang assist.

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Ang mga empleyado ng Senado na todo-suporta sa Defenders. (ROVIC BALUNSAY / Photoville International)

Nagpatuloy sa outside shooting si Tupas upang iabante ng isang puntos ang first half, 42-41.

Sa 3rd quarter, umangat pa sa 4 points ang kalamangan ng Solons sa tulong ng guest player nito na si former PBA star Arnold Gamboa, ngunit hinabol ito ng Defenders sa pangunguna ng kanilang mga import na sina ex-PBA players Kenneth Duremdes at Zaldy Realubit.

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Naging dikitan ang 1st half sa pangunguna ng Senate Defenders reinforcement na si former PBA star player Kenneth Duremdes at ni Iloilo Congressman Niel Tupas Jr. (PRINCE MARQUEZ / Photoville International)

Hindi naman natinag ang Solon captain ball na si Congresman Tupas upang bantayan at lusutan ang mga ex-PBA star ng Senado.

Gayunpaman, dahil sa ipinakitang epektibong steals at assist nina Senator Angara, umabante pa rin ang Defenders sa score na 55-62.

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Pagpasok ng 4th quarter, tuluyan nang lumobo ang kalamangan ng Team Senate hanggang sa 18 points at nagsara sa score na 74-83. (DOMINADOR REYES / Photoville International)

Nagtala si Kenneth “Captain Marvel” Duremdes ng kabuoang 36 points, 8 assist, at 3 steal upang hiranging player of the game.

“Maganda sa team ko na kay Senator Sonny is he works hard during our practices. He wants to win, yun ang maganda sa attitude nya. Malaking factor din yung crowd, so much fun playing again of this huge crowd at yun ang namimiss ko during my playing years. Back to Big Dome,” masayang pahayag ni Duremdes.

“Palagay ko gaganda pa yung teamwork at hopefully mabigyan ng magagandang laro yun iba pang koponan. Nung una nangangapa pa kami pero andyan yung kakampi namin na magagaling so nag-gel kami bonding second to third quarter,” saad naman ni Sen. Sonny Angara, ang Captain Ball ng Team Senate.

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Ang captain ball ng Senate Defenders na si Senator Sonny Angara. (REY VERCIDE / Photoville International)

Highest pointer naman ang perimeter shooter ng Iloilo na si Tupas na nagtala ng 22 points at 3 assist.

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Shooting for 3: Iloilo 5th District Niel Tupas Jr. (CHARLIE MINION / Photoville International)

“Yun talaga ang laro natin as shooting guard. Alam mo naman ang UNTV Cup ay very prestigious cup at naghanda tayo, nag-ensayo tayo kaya laban tayo. We did our best pero siguro mas magaling lang ang senado ngayong gabi,” ani Tupas. (Mon Jocson / Pong Mercado / Ruth Navales, UNTV News)

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(Left-Right) Nagsilbing court-side commentators sina sports analyst Sev Sarmenta, PBA Legends Coach Ronnie Magsanoc at Coach Gerry Codinera. (ROVIC BALUNSAY / Photoville International)

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Ang UNTV Action Center na bahagi ng public service ng UNTV Cup kung saan ang mga kasaling government agencies ay may table upang ang mga manonood sa game venue ay may pagkakataon ring makapagdulong ng kanikanilang mga hinaing o concerns. (LEONARDO ESTABILLO / PHOTOVILLE International)

MANILA, Philippines – Nagsimula na rin ang pagbibigay ng serbisyo sa mga mamamayang nangangailangan ng tulong ang action center na binubuo ng mga koponan mula sa iba’t ibang ahensiya ng gobyerno na kalahok sa UNTV Cup Season 2.

Ang UNTV Action Center ay isa sa ideya ni Mr. Public Service Kuya Daniel Razon na mailapit sa publiko ang serbisyo ng mga ahensya ng gobyerno na kalahok sa inter-government basketball league.

Nitong Linggo, isa sa mga dumulog sa MMDA desk sa Ynares Sports Arena sa Pasig ang taxi driver na si Romeo Omega.

Daing nito, hinuli at kinuha ang kaniyang lisensya ng isang MMDA traffic enforcer sa Commonwealth Avenue subalit wala namang ibinigay na ticket.

Ani Mang Romeo, “Siyempre po kailangan ko makuha ang lisensya ko, paano ako makakapaghanap-buhay kinuha niya ang lisensya ko, walang ticket na kapalit.”

“Papatawag din enforcer para marinig side niya kung sa tingin namin may maling ginawa pwede nating I file ng administrative case laban sa enforcer,” sagot naman ni Atty. Cesar Ona ng MMDA Legal.

Lumapit naman si Jesse Villareal sa Philhealth desk para alamin ang tamang proseso ng Philhealth deduction.

Ani Jesse, “Kasi na-confine asawa ko, ang alam namin is P15,000 ang ibabawas sa Philhealth, eh P5,000 lang. Inaalam ko lang paano proseso ng bawasan nila.”

Sagot naman ni Raymond Acoba, NCR-Public Relation Unit Head, “Titingnan natin kung complicated measle siya. P15,000 ang makukuwa niya ma check sa benefit payment ng Philhealth.”

Nais namang malaman ng retired police na si Manuel Santos, 67, ang mga requirement upang ma-avail ang lifetime benefits ng Philhealth.

Ayon kay Mr. Acoba, may mga programa ang Philhealth para sa mga senior citizen na hindi na kailangan pang magbayad ng monthly contribution, na tinatawag na non paying program.

Samantala, mula sa Taguig City ay nagsadya pa si Mang Godofredo Nuñez sa Ynares Sports Center upang idulog ang kanyang problema sa Philippine National Police (PNP).

Ayon kay Mang Nuñez, malaki ang kanyang pasasalamat sa UNTV at agad nasolusyunan ang kanyang problema.

Aniya, “Naririnig ko sa TV sa radio meron pala doon kaya pumunta ako dito ngayon. Ayon nagawan naman ni sir, mabilis nga eh na ano niya agad sa Kalookan.”

“Tinawagan ko ngayon si Sr. Supt. Tambawa, chief of police ng Caloocan,” pahayag ni Supt. Remi Segado ng Police Community Relation Group.

Samantala, personal namang pumunta si MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino sa game venue upang suportahan ang kanilang koponan at pangunahan ang serbisyo publiko ng ahensya.

Ani Tolentino, “Siguro sa flood control madadagdagan namin sa coming days kung may reklamo sila na i-declog drainage namin bumabaha dito, mga ganun.”

Isa naman sa serbisyo na ipinagkakaloob ng Senate desk ay ang medical assistance na nagkakahalaga ng P2,000 na maaring magamit sa hospital bills, medicine, at dialysis.

“Pag may lumapit na indigent patient ine-rerefer namin sila sa mga hospitals like PGH or Heart Center tapos bahala na hospital sa referral na ibibigay naming,” saad ni Nineveh Lao, Public Assistance Center.

Maaari ding magbigay ng job referral ang Senate desk para sa mga naghahanap ng mapapasukang trabaho. (JP Ramirez / Ruth Navales, UNTV News)

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Bumandera sa unang elimination game nitong Linggo sa UNTV Cup Season 2 ang paghaharap ng PNP Responders at Malacañang Patriots. (FREDERIC ALVIOR / PHOTOVILLE International)

MANILA, Philippines – Nagsimula na ang bakbakan sa basketball court ng iba’t ibang ahensya ng pamahalaan upang makuha ang kampeonato sa UNTV Cup Season 2.  Nagwagi ang Team Philippine National Police laban sa Malakanyang Patriots sa first game sa Ynares Sports Arena, Shaw Boulevard, Pasig City nitong Linggo.

Sa score na 67-61, tinuldukan ng PNP Responders ang buena-manong dikitang laban.

Lumamang pa ng 5 points ang Patriots sa pagpasok ng fourth quarter sa score na 45-50. Sinundan pa ito ng tres ng PSG outside shooter na si Rodney Daniel upang iabante sa 8 puntos ang Malakanyang. Subalit napako na ang mga taga Malakanyang at maagang nabigyan ng penalty. Sa last two minutes ng laro, namayani na ang veteran players ng PNP upang bumulusok ang magagandang running play ng Responders.

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Nagtala ng 21 points, 3 assists, at 2 steals ang season-1 MVP, “The Sniper” PO2 Ollan Omiping upang tanghaling player of the game. (DOMINADOR REYES Jr. / Photoville International)

“Nahirapan din kami kaya medyo match kami sa height at sa ability, match talaga. Kailangan talaga naming, depensahan muna namin sila. Yun naman nangyari na-stop namin sila, then pagbalik namin isang magandang play para maka-convert so yun lang para maunit-unti namin yung lamang nila,” saad ni Omiping.

Sa second game… tinapos ng LGU Vanguards sa 66-59 ang laban kontra MMDA Black Wolves. Pukpukan din ang paghaharap ng dalawang koponan. 13-15 sa first quarter pabor sa MMDA. Nakuha pa rin nito ang kalamangan sa second half 32-33, dahil sa mga back-to-back assist ng re-enforcement players nito na sina Jeffrey Sanders at Cyril Santiago.

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Napag-ambag sa MMDA Black Wolves ng pinagsamang 40 points, 24 rebounds 9 assists, 8 steals at 7 blocks ang 2 reinforcement nito na sina Jeff Sanders (#71) na ex-PBA at MBA player at Cyril Santiago (#7) na dating FEU Tamaraw player at center ng Barangay Hoopsters. (RUSSEL JULIO / Photoville International)

Ngunit nagsilbing scoring machine si dating Sta. Lucia PBA player Kiko Adriano upang iangat ang Team LGU sa third period. Tabla sa 62 ang score sa last two minutes. Hero of the day si Brgy. Poblacion Biñan Laguna Chairman Jayson Souza matapos dominantehan ang gulong ng bola at magbigay ng magagandang assists kay Adriano sa huling minuto ng laro.

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Ang tinanghal na Player of the Game na si Biñan Laguna Brgy. Captain Jayson Souza, jersey #20 ng LGU Vanguards. (RODEL LUMIARES / Photoville International)

Ani Souza, “Nakita ko kasi ang oras, medyo crucial. Ang nasaisip ko kapag meron akong chance eh ititira ko talaga. Kaya buenas lang Thank God!”

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Nasa game venue si MMDA Chairman at Black Wolves Manager Francis Tolentino upang sumoporta sa kanyang team. (FREDERICK ALVIOR / Photoville International)

At sa last event… nagdiwang ng ika-48 taong kaarawan si Supreme Court Administrator Midas Marquez kasabay ng pagkapanalo ng kanyang koponan kontra AFP Cavaliers kagabi sa score na 84 to 72.

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(L-R) Pinangunahan ng ‘Big 3’ ng Judiciary Magis na sina Don Camaso, celebrity guest player John Hall at Ariel Capus ang opensa ng team kung saan na ilang tatlo ay nakapagpondo ng kabuuang 70 puntos. (MADELINE MILANA / RUSSEL JULIO / Photoville International)

Samantala, pilit na sinubukang dumikit ng Team Armed Forces of the Philippines ngunit maagang na foul trouble ang mga big man nito.

Nagatala si Ariel Capus ng 26 points.

Samantala pumukol si Don “The Hammer” ng 25 points, at 19 defensive rebound upang dalhin ang koponang Judiciary.

“Buenas siguro tsaka slow start kami talaga. Pero ngayon nagawan namin ng paraan at depensa lang namin at nagusap-usap kami,” pahayag ni Camaso.(Pong Mercado / Ruth Navales, UNTV News)

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Sa mas pinalakas na line-up ng DOJ Avengers ay aminadong nahirapan ang AFP Cavaliers sa pagkamit ng una nitong panalo sa season 2 ng UNTV Cup. (RODEL LUMIARES / Photoville International)

MANILA, Philippines — Sa ikalawang linggo ng eliminations sa UNTV Cup season-2 sa Ynares Sports Arena kahapon, nakuha ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ang unang panalo nito mula sa opening game loss.

Tinapos ng AFP Cavaliers sa 9-point lead ang laro kontra DOJ Avengers, 93-84.

Naiatala nito ang pinakamalaking kalamangan na 20 points sa pagsasara ng third quarter sa score na 75 to 55.

Pinilit pang humabol ng re-enforced team na DOJ sa pamamagitan ng mga rookie player nito mula sa Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

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Tinanghal na player of the game ang point guard na si Air Force Sgt. Alvin Zuñiga na nagtala ng 19 points at 6 assists. (RUSSEL JULIO / Photoville International)

“Yung DOJ ha nagulat din kami dito kasi nakita naman natin yung rooster nila last year is not as ngayon na may height, may guard sila. may Reguera at Garrido,” pahayag ni  Zuñiga.

Sa second game… nakuha ng Judiciary Magis ang solong leadership sa 2 wins – 0 loss record matapos talunin ang LGU Vanguards sa score na 94 to 78.

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Ang scoring machine ng LGU na si Ervic Vijandre sa pagtangkang maka-score sa harapan ng Judiciary center Don Camaso. (MADZ MILANA / Photoville International)

Nahirapan ang scoring machines ng LGU.

Nababad sa court sina San Juan Vice Mayor Francis Zamora at Santolan Pasig Brgy. Kagawad Kiko Adriano.

Ngunit nakatikim pa ito ng 10 point lead dahil sa back-to-back outside shooting ni Barotac Viejo, Iloilo Mayor Niel Tupas III.

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Sa kalagitnaan na ng third quarter, lumitaw ang celebrity player na si Ervic Vijandre ngunit 15 points na ang abante ng Magis. (MAIA GARCIANO / Photoville International)

Sinikap ni Vijandre na habulin ang score subalit namayani ang pagiging beterano sa hard court ng UNTV Cup season-1 champion.

Nag-iwan ng 23 points, 3 assists, and 2 blocks ang celebrity player na si John Hall upang maging bida ng laro.

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“Mas malakas sila ngayon, last year kasi parang wala pa kaming chemistry. They even stronger now but we’re excited to get that win kasi last year we didn’t beat them,” saad ng Best Player of the Game na si John Hall. (RODEL LUMIARES / Photoville International)

At sa last game, pumutok ang mga bagong recruit ng Philhealth (Your Partner in Health) upang pataubin ang Team Philippine National Police sa score na 67-60.

Aminado ang PNP Responders na nabigla sa bagong composition ng Philhealth.

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Bagama’t dinominahan ng mga pulis ang first half, nakabawi ang Philhealth hanggang sa last quarter. Sa last 2 minutes, kinapos na ang key players ng Responders. (JOY REYES / Photoville International)

Nag-cramps ang mga hita ng point guard na si SPO1 Julis Criste at grumaduate ang big man na si PO2 Jaymann Misola.

Dahil sa three-point-shot ni Felmar Jaboli, naidikit pa ng PNP sa 61 to 60 ang score.

Samantala hindi na napigilan ang Philhealth at tuluyang dinala ang koponan ng mga re-enforcement player nito.

“Sinabi kasi ni Coach na relax lang dahan-dahanin namin. Yung bola dapat nasa ilalim kasi advantage namin si Poch eh, so nagawa namin,” pahayag ng Player of the Game na si Ramil Rey Tagupa. (Pong Mercado / Ruth Navales, UNTV News)

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Team PHILHEALTH jersey #33 Ramil Tagupa from Philhealth-Mindanao Region. (CHARLIE MIÑON / Photoville International)

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FILE PHOTO: Ang UNTV Action Center sa game venue ng UNTV Cup kung saan may mga table o booth ang mga kalahok na government agencies upang magbigay ng mga libreng serbisyo sa mga dudulog. (LEONARDO ESTABILLO / Photoville International)

MANILA, Philippines — Patuloy na nadaragdagan ang mga serbisyo at natutulungan ng UNTV Action Center na binubuo ng mga koponan mula sa iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno na kalahok sa UNTV Cup season 2.

Nitong Linggo ay pinasimulan ng Philhealth ang mga bago nitong serbisyo sa kanilang public service booth sa Ynares Sports Arena sa Pasig City.

Ayon kay Dr. Israel Francis Pargas, OIC-Vice President, Corporate Affairs Group, maaari nang kumuha ng Philhealth ID ang mga miyembro nito sa alinmang venue kung saan ginaganap ang UNTV Cup.

“Ang maganda dito nakakapag-print tayo ng ID for does na wala pang ID pwede kayong pumunta dito,” saad nito.

Ayon pa kay Dr. Pargas, maaari na ding mag-update ng membership profile sa naturang booth.

“Nakakapag-validate at change na tayo kung may kailangan palitan.” (UNTV News)

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Mar 3, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) is congratulated by Miami Heat shooting guard Ray Allen (34) and Miami Heat point guard Norris Cole in the second half of a game against the Charlotte Bobcats at American Airlines Arena. Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

(Reuters) – Miami’s LeBron James, wearing a protective mask to shield his broken nose, plundered a career-high 61 points in the Heat’s 124-107 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Monday.

James, who sustained the injury late last month, drained 22 of his 33 shots. The four-time MVP scored 24 points at halftime and poured in another 25 in the third quarter alone, while making his first eight three-pointers.

The outburst surpassed is previous career high of 56 points set back in 2005 when he played for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

It also fell one point short of Carmelo Anthony’s NBA season-high of 62.

The Miami crowd at American Airlines Arena showered James with cheers as he strengthened his case for another MVP in a two-man race between himself and Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant.

(Writing by Jahmal Corner; Editing by Peter Rutherford) nL3N0M116P

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Si Senate Power Forward Warren Tan (#10) sa pagtatangkang basagin ang depensa ng Philhealth – Your Partner In Health upang maka-score. (RUSSEL JULIO / Photoville International)

MANILA, Philippines — Nakuha ng Team Philhealth (Your Partner in Health) ang ikalawang panalo nito matapos talunin ang Senate Defenders sa pagpapatuloy ng elimination round ng UNTV Cup 2 sa Ynares Sports Arena, Linggo, March 02, 2014.

Tinambakan ng Team Philhealth ng 41 points ang Senate Defenders sa score na 103 – 62.

Naging matatag ang opensa ng Philhealth dahil sa ex-PBA player na si Poch Juinio.

Nagpakita rin ng magandang laro ang mga season-1 player nito na sina Kenneth Emata at Carlo Capati.

Sa kabilang koponan, pinangunahan ni Zaldy Realubit ang depensa ng mga taga Senado.

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Tinanghal na player of the game ang season-1 center man na si Alex Noriega na gumawa ng 12 points. (MADZ MILANA / Photoville International)

Dahil sa pagkapanalo, nadikitan ng Philhealth ang Team Judiciary sa leadership standing na 2 win 0 loss record.

“Nagkaisa naman kami kaya nanalo ngayon. Sabi lang ni coach wag lang tataas sa ulo yung kumpyansa, pagka nanalo, sa susunod uli. One game at a time ika nga ni coach,” pahayag ni Noriega.

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Samantala, nasa bench ng Senate Defenders si Senator Jinggoy Estrada upang magpakita ng suporta sa team ng Senado. (PRINCE MARQUEZ / Photoville International)

Sa second game, bigo pa ring makapasok sa win column ang House of Representatives Solons matapos padapain ng PNP Responders sa score na 91-68.

Bukod sa mga guest player, apat na kongresista ang nagtulong-tulong laban sa koponan ng mga pulis.

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Battle for ball controll. Sa bahaging ito ng laro ay nakarambola ang Responders at Solons upang makuha ang ball possession makikita si CIBAC Partylist Representative Sherwin Tugna ay nasa sahig na at ang isang player ng PNP. (REY VERCIDE / Photoville International)

Pumukol ng 10 points si Masbate 3^rd District Representative Gerald Gullas. Walo naman ang ambag ni Palawan 1^st District Representative Franz Alvarez.

Samantala, tig-lima ang naging kontribusyon nina Cibac Partylist Representative Sherwin Tugna at ang Solons captain ball na si Iloilo 5^th District Representative Niel Tupaz Jr.

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Napiling Best Player of the Game si PNP Responder jersey #15 PO2 Ronald Abaya na nagtala ng 14 points and 2 steals. (MAIA GARCIANO / Photoville International)

“Number 1 talaga yung depensa namin tapos ikontrol yung rebound. Yung transition game dahil yun nga yung sistema namin noong first season, gusto naming maibalik yun this season,” saad ni Abaya.

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At sa main event, tinapos ng Team Armed Forces of the Philippines ang laban kontra MMDA Black Wolves sa score na 89-78. (PRINCE MARQUEZ / Photoville International)

Nakapagrehistro ang AFP Cavaliers ng pinakamalaking kalamangan na 20 points sa third quarter ng laro.

Sa pagpasok ng fourth quarter, bumaba ang abante ng AFP sa 4-points dahil sa running game plays ng MMDA.

Subalit agad itong tinunaw ng mga sundalo upang dominahan ang laro at makamit ang kartang 2-1, panalo talo.

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Bida ang rookie player na si Air Force Staff Sergeant Paulino Fernandez na may 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists & 1 block. (PRINCE MARQUEZ / Photoville International)

“Ngayon lang ako nakapaglaro talaga. Kulang talaga ng bigman ang AFP kaya talagang sa laban na ito talagang pinaghandaan ko talaga,” pahayag ni Fernandez. (Pong Mercado / Ruth Navales, UNTV News)

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Isa sa si Black Wolves #5 Maximo Guittap na kumamada ng puntos upang pasukuin ang DOJ Avengers sa MMDA nitong Linggo sa UNTV Cup. (CHARLIE MIÑON / Photoville International)

MANILA, Philippines – Tinambakan ng MMDA Black Wolves ang DOJ Avengers, 104 to 87, upang makausad sa second round elimination ng UNTV Cup Season 2 sa Ynares Sports Arena sa Pasig City, Linggo.

Pinangunahan ng reinforcement player na si Jeffrey Sanders ang koponan upang makamit ng Black Wolves ang 1-2 win-loss record.

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8 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists at 4 steals ang naitala ni jersey #71 Jeffrey Sanders. Samantalang 18 puntos naman ang ipinukol ng isa pang MMDA guest player na si Cyril Santiago jersey #7 na dating FEU Tamaraws . (CHARLIE MIÑON / Photoville International)

Umambag rin ang traffic aide na si Harold Monzon ng 14 points at 13 points naman para kay Traffic Constable Ermel Idria.

Sa kabilang banda, hindi naging sapat ang 27 points ng DOJ reinforcement na si Ian Garrido upang makamit ang unang panalo.

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DOJ Avengers reinforcement jersey #9, center, Ian Vincent Garrido (PRINCE MARQUEZ / Photoville International)

Nanganganib na ang Avengers sa maagang pagka-eliminate dahil sa tatlong sunod na pagkatalo. Ang panalo ng Black Wolves ang nagbigay ng malaking tsansa sa koponan upang makarating sa second round.

“Napakahalaga yun kasi gusto pa naming humaba yung game namin kaya kelangan talagang manalo. Kaya sana suportahan pa nila ang MMDA,” pahayag ni Sanders, itinanghal na player of the game.

Sa second game, nagtapos sa 3-point lead ang Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) kontra LGU Vanguards, 101 to 98 final score upang makamit ng Cavaliers ang ikatlong sunod na pagwawagi sa elimination round.

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Mapa-opensa at depensa, dikitan ang naging labanan ng AFP Cavaliers at LGU Vanguards (MARLON BONAJOS / PHOTOVILLE International)

19-21 sa first quarter. Tabla sa 41 sa second period, sa third lumamang ng isang puntos ang AFP, 72-71.

Sa last 18 seconds ng laro, lamang ng 4 points ang Cavaliers. Hindi pumasok ang 3-point attempt ng perimeter shooter na si Kiko Adriano, ngunit nagawa ito ni San Juan Vice Mayor Francis Zamora sa huling pitong segundo.

Last two seconds, hawak pa rin ng Vanguards ang bola subalit kinapos na sila ng oras.

“Lumamang kami, lumamang sila, up to the last seconds hindi mo alam kung anong mangyayari. Pero ganun talaga ang basketball. Ang pinaka-importante dito nag-enjoy ang mga fans ng UNTV CUP,” saad ni Vice Mayor Francis Zamora.

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Si AFP Cbvaliers Sgt. Alvin Zuñiga na may 21 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals upang hiranging player of the game. (CHARLIE MIÑON / Photoville International)

“Alam namin na si Kiko Adriano at si Ervic Vijandre yung kanilang premiere scorer, somehow na-contain namin pero magaling talaga. This is a good win for us. With 3-1 ay papunta na kami ng quarter finals at least babalik uli kami magpa-practice uli kami,” saad ni Sgt. Zuñiga.

At sa third match, undefeated pa rin ang Philhealth (Your Partner in Health) sa score na 76 to 61 kontra sa Malakanyang Patriots.

Hindi umubra ang mga playing PSG ng Malakanyang sa kabila ng presensya na ni Coach Jenkins Mesina sa court na kumamada ng 6 na puntos.

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Isang easy lay up mula kay Philhealth center Alex Noriega ng 2 sa kanyang 21 puntos na kontribusyon upang gapiin ang Malacanañg Patriots. (CHARLIE MIÑON / Photoville International

Kapwa 11 points naman ang ipinukol nina Major Paul Yamamoto at Sgt. Joseph Besa.

Samantala, 22 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 steals ang ibinigay ni Jesson Alfeche ng Philhealth upang hiranging player of the game.

“Yung lang kasi ang sinasabi ni Coach sa amin, yun sistema namin sa game plan namin, dun lang ang inistick naming,” saad ni Alfeche.

Ngayon, kapwa nasa ibabaw ang Judiciary Magis at Philhealth sa kani-kanilang grupo na may 3 panalo at walang talo. (Pong Mercado / Ruth Navales, UNTV News)

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Ang tinanghal na Best Player of the Game na si Philhealth Small Forward Jesson Alfeche. (RUSELL JULIO / Photoville International)

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Bagaman lumaban ng puspusan ang koponan ng mga kongresista tulad ng tagpong ito kung saan ay mahipit na kumapit sa bola si Congressman Sherwin Tugna para makakuha ng ball possession, dahil sa matinding dipensa at opensa ng Philhealth-Your Partner In Health, di pa rin nagawang makapanaig ng HOR Solons. (JOY REYES / Photoville International)

MANILA, Philippines – Dahil sa 6-point lead kontra House of Representatives, napanatili ng Team Philhealth (Your Partner in Health) ang clean record nito sa score na 81-75, sa nalalapit na pagtatapos ng first round of eliminations ng UNTV Cup 2 sa Ynares Sports Arena nitong Linggo, March 23, 2014. 

Leader ngayon ang Philhealth sa record na 4 wins.

Lalo namang nanganib ang Solons na malaglag sa Group B na wala pang panalo sa tatlo nitong laban.

Sa last 3-minutes, nagawa pang dumikit at makaabante ng isang puntos ang Solons, 70-69 sa pamamagitan ng fast break play nina re-enforcement player Gerard Francisco at Palawan First District Congressman Franz Alvarez na nakapagtala ng kabuoang 14 points.

Agad naman itong tinunaw ng Philhealth dahil sa mga jump shots ni Rey Tagupa.

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Muling hinirang na player of the game ang tubong Misamis Oriental na si Jesson Alfeche na pumukol ng 20 points, 3 assists at 4 steals. (PRINCE MARQUEZ / Photoville International)

“Sabi ni Coach sa amin dun sa dug-out ‘guys go hard lang tayo’ sabi nya i-run lang natin yun game plan para manalo kami,” pahayag ni Alfeche.

Sa second game, siniguro ng LGU Vanguards ang pagpasok sa second round eliminations nang tambakan nito ng 33 points ang DOJ Avengers, 102-69.

Naging problema ng Avengers ang pagkawala ng mga key player nito na sina Paul Reguera, Denver Lacanilao, at Rosauro Dantis na nasa importanteng duty.

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Kinapitan DOJ Avengers sina Giovanni Romero at Ian Garrido pagdating sa opensa ngunit dahil sa solid na defensive at offensive rally ng LGU Vanguards ay kinapos pa rin ang koponan. (PRINCE MARQUEZ / Photoville International)

Dahil dito, una nang nagpaalam sa liga ang Team Department of Justice matapos bigong makakuha ng panalo sa apat na game.

“Kuya Daniel maraming salamat uli sa Season-2, pangalawang laglag na namin ito pero next time pipilitin naming makaahon,” saad ni Iluminado Cabrido Jr, Team Coordinator ng DOJ Avengers.

“Ginawa naman namin ang lahat kaya lang hindi pinalad. Siguro sa susunod kapag nakuha uli kami itong Seson-3 baka makabawi,” dagdag pa nito.

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Pinangunahan ni Kiko Adriano ang Team Local Government Units sa kabuoang 24 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists at 5 steals. Dahil dito si Adriano ang tinanghal na Best Player of the Game. (MAIA GARCIANO / Photoville International)

Kumamada naman ng 14 points, 8 rebounds, at 3 assists ang celebrity player na si Ervic Vijandre.

“Unang-una masaya ito may pag-asa pa especially yung mga umaasa sa ating OFW natin na eto laban pa rin naman. Ang sa akin lang naman yung best player na yan eh bonus na lang eh, ang gusto lang naman natin manalo at ma-involved ang mga kasamahan natin,” pahayag naman ni Francis Adriano ng LGU Vanguards, player of the game.

Sa third match, pinadapa ng PNP Responders ang Senate Defenders sa score na 93-53.

Nahirapan ang koponan ng Senado dahil hindi nakalaro ang inaasahang reinforcement player nito na si Kenneth Duremdes.

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Matapos ang dalawang games na nasa bench lang, naglaro na rin sa pagkakataong ito si Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada (#7). Dahil nga di nakarating si PBA Legend Kenneth Duremdes bilang reinforcement ng Senate Defenders, naglaro na rin si Coach Lino Ong, jersey #15. (JOY REYES / Photoville International)

Maaga ring pinulikat ang isa sa ex-PBA player na si Zaldy Realubit kaya maging si Coach Lino Ong ay naglaro na din at nagbigay ng 5 points at 7 rebounds para sa team.

Umikot ang bola ng PNP at kapwa may 10 points sina PO3 Jay Mann Misola at PO2 Japhet Cabahug.

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Sa 2nd quarter ng laro ay nagtamo ng injury si Senador Estrada matapos ng steal ni PNP Sniper Olan Omiping at hindi na muling nakabalik sa laban. (MAIA GARCIANO / Photoville International)

Samantala tig-9 na puntos sina PO2 Ollan Omiping, SPO1 Julius Criste, C/Insp Rey Agoncillo, at Edrei Mendiola.

May karta ngayong 3-1 panalo-talo ang Philippine National Police, samantalang bumagsak sa 1-3 ang record ng Team Senate.

“Pinaghandaan din namin ng maigi kasi ine-expect naming maglalaro si Kenneth tsaka tingin naming mahihirapan kami kaya naghanda kami. Tapos medyo apprehensive pa nga kami kasi more than 3 weeks kaming pahinga kaya sabi ni Coach takbo na lang para lumabas ang pawis nyo,” anang player of the game na si Misola.

Sa ngayon ay nasa itaas na ng team standing ang Philhealth, sumusunod ang Judiciary Magis at kapwa nasa ikatlong pwesto ang PNP at AFP. (Pong Mercado / Ruth Navales, UNTV News)

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Ang tinanghal na Best Player of the Game na si PNP Responder #17 Jaymann Misola na kumana ng 10 points, 4 blocks, 1 rebound & 1 assist. (JOY REYES / Photoville International)

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FILE PHOTO: Participants from South America led by Bro. Eli Soriano of the record-breaking UNITY Run in January of 2012 initiated by Mr. Public Service Kuya Daniel Razon in the Philippines. Studies show that the longer you can run when you’re young, the faster your mind is likely to be operating in middle age, a new study suggests. (PHOTOVILLE International)

(Reuters Health) – The longer you can run when you’re young, the faster your mind is likely to be operating in middle age, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that better cardiac fitness in young adults translated to better brain fitness 25 years later, adding to a growing body of evidence that links heart health with mental functioning.

“Our study links fitness, which can be influenced by vigorous activity, but also by general engagement with life and the community or ‘being part of things,’ with poorer thinking skills at age ages 43 to 55 years,” author David R. Jacobs told Reuters Health by email.

Jacobs worked on the new study at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

He and his coauthors analyzed data on 2,700 men and women over a 25-year period. The participants were recruited in 1985, when they were all between 18 and 30 years old.

In 1985, all participants did a short treadmill test to assess their fitness. The researchers recorded how long each person could maintain running at their top speed.

There were seven follow-up checks over the next 25 years. At the last one, in 2010, researchers tested the participants’ mental functioning with three tests of visual memory, reaction speed and the kind of mental control needed to answer a trick question, such as identifying the color of the word yellow written in green ink (correct answer: “green”).

In general, people who were more fit at the beginning of the study were more likely to have higher education, to smoke less, to be active more often and to have healthy blood pressure and lower cholesterol than people who were less fit.

For the memory test, researchers showed each person a list of 15 words, then 10 minutes later asked them to recall those words. When they looked at participants’ fitness as young adults, they found that for every extra minute an individual could keep sprinting on the treadmill back then, the person remembered .12 more words correctly on the memory test 25 years later.

People who were fitter in youth also performed noticeably better on the reaction speed test and the trick question test, according to the results published in the journal Neurology.

Another recent analysis of the same data linked lower blood pressure and blood sugar in the teen years and twenties with quicker memory and learning skills in middle age (see Reuters Health story of April 1, 2014, here: reut.rs/1or6jez).

The two papers taken together indicate that aspects of behavior and fitness at average age 25 predict thinking skills at average age 50, Jacobs said.

The mounting evidence suggests that this heart-brain connection begins working early in life, he said.

It is possible that exercising more at an early age simply lowers blood pressure, which then lowers the risk for cognitive decline and dementia, but the researchers took differences in blood pressure into account, Jacobs said, and the results held.

“My interpretation is that something about being more fit, or just doing better on the specific treadmill test that we included, has a connection to better thinking skills,” he said.

“We know lifestyle is absolutely fundamental to this whole picture,” said Dr. Jennifer G. Robinson, director of the Prevention Intervention Center at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, who was not involved in the new study.

More and more research is identifying subtle changes in heart health early on that predict brain health later, Robinson told Reuters Health.

We can’t say yet that physical activity will improve brain function, but it is a good bet that better physical fitness is a positive thing generally, Jacobs said.

“We find many connections between life and biology in youth that predict who has a better or worse profile in late middle age,” he said. “Health starts in childhood, or even before birth.”

SOURCE: bit.ly/1f4kQ99 Neurology, online April 2, 2014.

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Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines (R) blocks a punch by undefeated WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley of the U.S. during their title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada April 12, 2014. REUTERS/Steve Marcus

(Reuters) – Manny Pacquiao scored a unanimous decision win over Timothy Bradley to regain the WBO welterweight title on Saturday and avenge a highly controversial loss to the American in June 2012.

Two judges scored the fight 116-112 for Pacquiao, while a third saw it as a 118-110 win for the Filipino. In their previous fight, Bradley was awarded a split decision victory that many observers felt Pacquiao had won clearly.

“He threw a lot of punches and I didn’t want to be careless,” said Pacquiao. “In the second half of the fight, I listened to my corner and they told me to work on the timing of my punches.”

Pacquiao added that his trainer Freddie Roach “told me to make adjustments and I did. Bradley was wild on the outside so I took it to the inside.”

The early rounds of the fight were explosive, with Pacquiao the aggressor and Bradley looking to land big counter right hands as the Filipino moved forward.

A wild third round saw both men exchanging vicious shots, a pair of lefts from Pacquiao being followed by an uppercut and a right hand from Bradley and a series of ripping body shots by the American.

Through five, Bradley (31-1, 12 KOs) appeared to be on top and Pacquiao looked uncertain how to land cleanly without exposing himself to big counters.

In the sixth, however, the momentum shifted.

Bradley’s output suddenly dropped and Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KOs) adjusted his style to throw fast combinations and move out of the way before Bradley had the chance to load up.

The seventh may have been the Filipino’s most dominant round, as he pinned Bradley to the ropes and unleashed flurries.

Bradley beckoned him on, daring him to attack, and Pacquiao paused warily before resuming his assault and landing a hard left hand that stunned his foe.

Bradley continued to have his moments, notably in the ninth round when he landed some hard combinations to Pacquiao’s chin to stem the challenger’s assault, but his punches were more ragged and wild, while Pacquiao’s were shorter and sharper.

Bradley said he had been going for the knockout.

“I tried. I really tried,” he said. “I wanted that knockout. Manny’s a great fighter, maybe one of the best ever. I lost to one of the best.”

It was the first defeat of Bradley’s career.

(Editing by Peter Rutherford)

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Ang tinanghal na player of the game na si Patriots #7 Paul Yamamoto sa isang drive lay up attempt. (RUSSEL JULIO / Photoville International)

MANILA, Philippines — Sa pagsisimula ng second round elimination ay nagtuos ang LGU Vangurads at Malacañang Patriots.

Nanalo ang Patriots ng 2 puntos kontra Vanguards sa score na 93-91.

Mainit pinasimulan ang labanan sa palitan ng 3 point shoots  nila besa, mesina at vijandre nagtapos ang 1^st quarter na lamang ang patriots ng 7 puntos sa score na 24- 17.

Pagpasok ng second quarter nagpakawala ng tatlong 3 point shoots si Mayor  Tupas at sinamahan pa ito ng offensive attacks nila Adriano at Vijandre.

Lumamang ng isang puntos ang LGU sa pagtatapos ng 1^st half sa score na 43-44.

Pagsapit ng final quarter pinataob ng tambalang Lucido-Yamamoto  ang Vijandre-Adriano at nakaabante ang patriots sa 93-91 na tagumapay kontra Vanguards.

Tinanghal na best player si Paul Yamamoto na may 17 points, 6 rebounds at 3 assist.

Bumagsak ang marka ng LGU sa 2-3 panalo talo habang ang Malacanang ay 4 wins at 1 loss.

Ani Yamamoto, “Team work lang communication offense and defense.”

Samantala, sa main game ay nag tapat  ang MMDA Black Wolves na nasa bandang ibaba ng group a standing laban sa PNP Responders na season 1 runner up at nasa top standing ng group B.

Nanalo ang responders laban sa Black Wolves sa scores na 75-61.

Sa pagsisimula ng bakbakan agad na umarangkada ang mga manlalaro ng responders na sila Omiping, Abaya at Abragan upang agad na makalamang ng 7 puntos sa Black Wolves sa score na 19-12.

Sa ikalawang yugto ay patuloy ang maalat na laro ng reinforcement player ng Black Wolves na si Cyril Santiago sa 0 out of 6 field goals nag tapos ang second quarter sa score na 33-26.

Sa 3^rd quarter ay nag init ang running game ng mmda sa pangunguna nila Villanueva at Sanders, umaabot pa sa 11 points ang lamang ng Black Wolves sa huling 3 minuto, nagtapos ang 3^rd quarter sa score na 52-55.

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Sa huling yugto ng labanan ay namayagpag pa rin ang team work ng PNP Responders at bumaliktad ang momentum ng laro sa pangunguna ni Olan Omiping at Julius Criste nagtapos ang laban sa score na 75-61.
Si Criste na may 15 points, 3 assist at 3 steals ang player of the game. (MADELYN MILANA / Photoville International)

Bumagsak sa 2 wins at 3 losses ang MMDA Black Wolves at patuloy pa rin ang winning streak ng PNP Responders sa 5-0 panalo talo.

“Nagtiwala kami sa sinabi ni coach na i-run lang namin laro namin makakabalik kami wag kami mawala sa focus,” pahayag ng tinanghal na player of the game na si Julius Criste. (JP Ramirez, UNTV News)

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Istanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland hold up his trophy after winning the final tennis match against his compatriot Roger Federer at the Monte Carlo Masters in Monaco April 20, 2014. CREDIT: REUTERS/PATRICE MASANTE

(Reuters) - Stanislas Wawrinka signaled his French Open ambitions by beating Roger Federer 4-6 7-6 (5) 6-2 in an all-Swiss Monte Carlo Masters final on Sunday.

Third seed and Australian Open champion Wawrinka recovered from the loss of the opening set to claim his maiden Masters title on the Monte Carlo clay just six weeks before the May 25-June 8 grand slam tournament in Paris.

“I can see that when mentally I’m there and I’m fighting, I can play tennis, I can beat all the players,” Wawrinka told reporters.

“When I came here, for me it was more like a test. I knew I was playing good tennis, but I didn’t expect to win because the draw was so strong.

“Clay, it’s natural for me. It’s easy. I’m always happy to come back on clay. It’s always easy.”

Federer, whose only defeat in 14 previous matches against Wawrinka was in Monte Carlo in 2009, said: “I had a great week. Congratulations to Stan, I hope it will continue for you like that for years.”

Fourth seed Federer, who beat an injured Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals, was his brilliant old self for almost an hour but the 17-times grand slam champion was eventually overwhelmed by his opponent’s power.

Wawrinka played with great depth as Federer was eventually pushed back far from his baseline and was prevented from attacking.

“I don’t think I served quite so well early on in the third set,” Federer said.

“I think he really found his range and started to hit bigger, deeper. He didn’t miss that many second serve returns anymore.

“He gave me a couple cheap points in the first couple sets which he later on really didn’t give me anymore.”

Federer saved a break point in the fourth game, Wawrinka banging his racket on his head in frustration after his passing shot went long.

Federer was more composed, breaking for 3-2 as Wawrinka’s usually reliable backhand sailed long.

Another long backhand from Wawrinka gave Federer the opening set after 42 minutes.

Wawrinka opened a 2-0 lead in the second set, only for his opponent to steal his serve straight back with a stunning backhand down the line.

Federer saved more break points in the fourth game, including one with a superb forehand winner as the second set went to a tiebreak.

Federer saved two set points before Wawrinka finished it off with a smash.

Wawrinka broke in the first game of the decider with a forehand winner down the line as Federer looked disorientated.

Federer went to the net to save another break point at 2-0, but a crosscourt forehand earned Wawrinka a second break and a 3-0 lead.

He followed up on serve and Federer never threatened a comeback, bowing out following yet another forehand winner by Wawrinka.

(Writing by Julien Pretot; Editing by Ed Osmond)

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Si PBA Legend Kenneth Duremdes ng Senate Defenders (19) na sinabayan ni AFP Cavaliers wing man Wilfredo Casulla (15) sa pagtatangka nitong makagawa ng puntos sa pamamagitan ng lay up. (FREDERICK ALVIOR / Photoville International)

MANILA, Philippines – Hindi umubra ang Senate Defenders sa AFP Cavaliers sa pagpapatuloy ng UNTV Cup season 2 sa Ynares Sports Arena, Linggo.

Sa score na 10-82, pinataob ng mga sundalo ang koponan ng senado at bumandera si Sgt. Alvin Zuniga sa kanyang 22 points, 4 rebounds, at 9 assists. Sinundan ito ni Seaman First Class Winston Sergio na nagtapos sa 14 puntos at 4 rebounds; at Rolando Pascual na nagtala ng 12 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals.

Taglay ngayon ng AFP ang kartang 4 wins, 1loss.

Samantala, bumagsak sa 2-3 win-loss ang record ng Senate Defenders sa kabila ng 30 puntos na ibinigay ng reinforcement player na si Kenneth Duremdes.

“Pinag-aralan talaga namin kasi nakita namin kung masu-sweep namin itong second round maganda yung magiging chance namin for 1 & 2 spot, magkakaroon ng twice to beat advantage, yun yung hinahabol namin,” pahayag ni Zuñiga ng AFP Cavaliers.

Sa second game, tinambakan ng 30 points ng Philippine National Police Responders ang LGU Vanguards, 102-72.

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Muling pinangunahan ni UNTV Cup Season 1 MVP Olan ‘The Sniper’ Omiping ang PNP Responders upang talunin ang LGU Vanguards sa 2nd game nitong Linggo. (CHARLIE MINION / Photoville International)

Sinamantala ng PNP ang pagkawala ng number 1 shooter ng Local Government Unit na si Kiko Adriano na busy sa commitment bilang barangay kagawad.

Umikot ang bola ng PNP at highest pointer pa rin ang season-1 MVP na si PO2 Ollan ‘The Sniper’ Omiping, habang nag-ambag rin ng 13 si SPO1 Julius Criste at 10 para kay PO3 Jay Mann Misola.

Samantala, pumukol naman ang celebrity player ng LGU na si Ervic Vijandre ng 24 puntos, 2 rebounds, at 1 steal.

Saad ni Omiping, “Talagang nag-prepare kami kasama si Kiko tapos ngayong naglaro kami eh wala si Kiko so talagang naging easy siguro kasi sumobra yung preparation namin eh so lahat nag-deliver.”

At sa main event, nakabawi ang Judiciary Magis matapos ang pagkatalo sa MMDA noong nakaraang linggo.

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Ang 2 sa 23 puntos ni John Hall nitong Linggo. Sa score na 83-75, nasungkit ng Team Judiciary sa Malakanyang Patriots ang ikalawang pwesto sa game standing sa kabila ng wala pa rin si Don Camaso dahil sa injury. (RODEL LUMIARES / Photoville International)

Dikitan ang naging labanan ng Judiciary- Malakanyang hanggang sa first half.

Nagpakawala ng tatlong magkakasunod na 3-points si Ariel Capus sa third period upang makaabante na ang Judiciary. Sinundan pa ito ng dalawang magkasunod na 3-points ni Frederick Salamat upang tuluyang lumamang sa final quarter.

May kabuoang 24 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals si Ariel Capus, habang 23 points, 4 rebounds, at isang assist para kay Jon Hall.

“Nag-adjust kami na pagdating ng mga latter part ng game kailangan mas maayos na defense and offense namin. Siguro kailangan lang namin i-fill-up yung absence ni Don kaya siguro ang mind-set namin kung sino ang libre eh tira,” pahayag ni Salamat.

Nangunguna pa rin ang PNP Responders sa liga na may anim na panalo at walang talo. Sumusunod naman ang Judicary Magis at AFP Cavaliers na kapwa may record na 4-1 panalo-talo. (Pong Mercado / Ruth Navales, UNTV News)

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Clippers’ Chris Paul hustles to get a ball possession in the battle against OKC. (REUTERS)

(Reuters) – Chris Paul missed just two shots in a stunning 32-point display as the Los Angeles Clippers blasted the Oklahoma City Thunder 122-105 on Monday to seize a Game One victory in their Western Conference semi-final series.

Paul made his first eight three-pointers, a career-best total, and finished 12-for-14 from the field with 10 assists as Los Angeles enjoyed a surprisingly dominant road win to open the best-of-seven series.

“It was just one of those nights. This will definitely go down in the history books for me,” Paul told reporters.

With the victory, the Clippers continued to distance themselves from the cloud of controversy that hovered above a first round series overshadowed by owner Donald Sterling’s racist comments that led to a life ban from the NBA.

The Clippers were expected to ease past Golden State but despite the unwanted distraction created by Sterling’s remarks, Los Angeles held on to edge the sixth-seeded Warriors in a hard-fought series that went the distance.

The Thunder also waded through a seven-game struggle of their own against Memphis but appeared ill-prepared for a free-scoring Los Angeles team, despite 29 points from Russell Westbrook and 25 from Kevin Durant.

Paul showed his hand early, pouring in five three-pointers in the first quarter alone to lead the road team to a 39-25 advantage at the break.

The Clippers continued to build on their momentum as the Thunder appeared powerless to slow them down with Los Angeles leading by as much as 29 points late in the fourth quarter.

All Star Blake Griffin finished with 23 points and Jamal Crawford added 17 off the bench in the winning effort.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Thabo Sefolosha, regarded as a defensive specialist, rejoined the starting lineup after being benched for the past two games but his presence had almost no effect on the Clippers’ offense.

“We have to be more physical with them, and make them feel us a little bit more,” Durant said.

(Writing by Jahmal Corner; Editing by John O’Brien)

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FILE PHOTO: Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant (REUTERS)

May 6 (Reuters) – Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder was named on Tuesday as the National Basketball Association’s Most Valuable Player for the 2013-14 season.

Durant won the MVP award for the first time in his seven-year career, claiming the honor by a landslide after capturing his fourth scoring title in five seasons and leading the Thunder to the Northwest Division title and the NBA playoffs.

Miami Heat’s LeBron James, who had won the MVP title four times in the last five seasons, finished a distant second in the voting while Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers was third, Joakim Noah of the Chicago Bulls fourth and James Harden of the Houston Rockets fifth.

Durant received 119 first-place votes from a total of 124 votes cast by sportswriters and broadcasters in North America plus one special fan vote. James picked up the other six first-place votes.

During the regular season, five-time All-Start Durant averaged a career-best 32 points per game to go with 7.4 rebounds and 5.5 assists, also a career high.

In capturing his fourth scoring title, he joined Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, George Gervin and Allen Iverson as the only players to win at least four scoring titles.

The 25-year-old forward, who also won a gold medal with the U.S. team at the 2012 London Olympics, scored more than 40 points in a game 17 times during the season.

(Reporting by Julian Linden in New York; Editing by Larry Fine)

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Mar 1, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) adjusts his mask before a game against the Orlando Magic at American Airlines Arena. Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

(Reuters) – The Miami Heat reversed their regular season form against Brooklyn and dispatched the Nets 107-86 in the opening game of their Eastern Conference second round series on Tuesday. The Heat had lost all four meetings with the Nets during the regular season, but the two-time defending NBA champions have been dominant in the playoffs, improving to 5-0 after whitewashing Charlotte in the opening round.

LeBron James led the way with 22 points, Ray Allen scored 19 off the bench and Miami outsourced Brooklyn 61-43 in the second half to run away with the win. Nets forwards Paul Pierce (eight points) and Kevin Garnett (zero points, four rebounds) were non-factors. Game Two of the best-of-seven series is on Thursday, again in Miami.

(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

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May 7, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert (55) takes a shot against Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat (4) in game two of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeats Washington 86-82. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

(Reuters) – Roy Hibbert emerged from a deep playoff slump to help rescue the Indiana Pacers as they edged Washington 86-82 on Wednesday to avoid falling behind by two games in the Eastern Conference semi-final.

Hibbert, coming off a Game One performance in which he failed to record a point or rebound, broke through with 28 points and nine rebounds that allowed Indiana to tie the best-of-seven series 1-1.

Indiana’s seven-footer had been under fire for his poor play throughout the post-season and he credited his team for helping him regain form. “Paul (George) took me out on his boat yesterday and we sat there and fished – we didn’t even talk about basketball,” Hibbert told reporters. “My team mates really believed in me. I’m thankful for such great team mates.”

Things were not as harmonious for the whole game for the top-seeded Pacers, who trailed 77-74 with five minutes to go before answering with a 10-2 run that clinched the contest.

Lance Stephenson hit a 3-pointer with 21.4 seconds left, giving the Pacers a five-point lead. Stephenson finished with 12 points, and guard George Hill scored 14.

Marcin Gortat tallied 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Wizards. Bradley Beal added 17 points and seven assists while point guard John Wall had a second difficult shooting night, making just 2-for-13 from the field.

The Wizards now head home to Washington for Game Three on Friday.

Washington surprised Indiana by jumping on them early in Game One, but it was the turn of the Wizards to be blindsided by Hibbert in the rematch.

“We knew he was going to get touches, no one expected him to score 28,” Gortat said.

“The most important thing is to make sure he’s not going to come back the next game with the same effort.”

(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles, editing by Nick Mulvenney)