FOR the first time since they joined the UNTV Cup, the NHA Builders defeated two-time champion Judiciary Magis last Sunday, 95-87.
Former Most Valuable Player Antonio Lustestica Jr. led the Builders with 25 points, while John Derrick Dizon ably backed him up with 18 markers as the two were hailed as Best Players of the Game.
The Magis set the tone of the game early with three consecutive three pointers from Warren Ybanez, Don Camaso and Chester Tolomia to lead, 23-20, but the NHA Builders quickly grabbed the advantage early in the second quarter, 28-25, before settling for a 46-38 halftime count.
NHA’s lead reached 14 points, but Judiciary narrowed down the gap to 6 points, before unleashing a 7-0 run to regain the lead, 69-68.
They even held a 74-71 edge after a triple from Tolomia.
But NHA was quick to recover as Lustestica Jr. responded with three consecutive treys to pull away.
Tolomia scored 25 points, Ybanez had 17 and Camaso hit 16 for the Judiciary Magis.
“Sabi ko hindi tayo mananalo kung kanya kanya at mag-e-errors tayo. Sabi ko mag-tulungan tayo sa depensa, lalo na kina Tolomia at Camaso. So, kung hindi mo tao ‘yun at libre, kailangan mo puntahan ‘yun. So it’s more team effort kami ngayon at ‘yung puso nila ngayon, hindi sila bumigay,” said coach Bennet Palad.
In other games, Malacanang-PSC Kamao listed its second win by defeating the DOJ Justice Boosters, 91-75; even as the Senate Defenders claimed their first win by handing the BFP Firefighters their second loss, 88-81.
Games Sunday
(Pasig City Sports Center)
2 p.m. AFP vs. COA
3:30 p.m. Ombudsman vs. DA
5 p.m. Senate vs. GSIS