(photo by: Jaspher L. Lumagbas)
QUEZON CITY – The UNTV Cup Season 9 was formally opened on 21 November 2022 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, here.
The prestigious Liga ng Public Servants is a charity tournament among government agencies. Each team is composed of 15 players who are not less than 32 years of age and an employee of the agency at least two years at the start of the tournament. Players who have played in any professional league within the last five years are disqualified.
Twelve teams are participating this season were divided into two brackets, namely: Bracket A: 1. AFP Cavaliers, 2. JUDICIARY Magis, 3. GSIS Furies, 4. OP-PMS Trailblazers, 5.
PHILHEALTH Konsulta and 6. DA Food Masters. Bracket B: 1. NHA Home Masters, 2. PNP Responders, 3. Ombudsman Graft Busters, 4. SSS Kabalikat, 5. SENATE Defenders and 6. DENR Warriors.
Each participating team has a chosen beneficiary that will receive the cash prize that will be won by the team.
In his opening remarks, UNTV Cup Commissioner Fortunato G. Co, Jr., the famous ”Atoy Co” of the Crispa Redmanizers, expressed his excitement as he saw the teams and their fans see face to face after the pandemic.
He then explained that the tournament format will be a single round-robin in each bracket. The last two teams after the round will be eliminated. The four teams in each bracket will advance to a cross-over quarter-finals.
The final four teams will play in a single round-robin semi-finals to determine the pairing for the finals. The founder of UNTV Cup, Daniel Soriano Razon, delivered his inspirational message to the participating teams and the fans that filled the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
It would be recalled that in the UNTV Season 8 held in 2019-2020, the DENR Warriors won against the 3-time champion AFP Cavaliers.
It became the first rookie team in UNTV Cup history to win the championship. The cash prize of P4 million was awarded to its chosen beneficiary, the Environmental Heroes Foundation, Incorporated.
This year, the DENR Warriors has chosen the Environmental Sports Association, Inc. (ESAI), a non-stock, non-profit association, as its beneficiary.
In an exclusive interview with ESAI president, Engr. Al Ellema, explained that the association aims to promote health and wellness among environmental workers and advocates both in the government.
“The Environmental Sports Association, Inc. was organized in response to the challenges of the covid19 pandemic that our country suffered. During the pandemic, we were confronted with the reality where workers fell unwell and unhealthy while others succumbed to the dreaded covid19 disease” Ellema explained.
ESAI shall take a pro-active role in keeping the awareness of every worker that their health is primordial in maintaining productivity in their respective work. The call to maintain a healthy physical and mental condition is everyone’s responsibility. A healthy workforce will not only improve productivity but peace and happiness for every worker’s family.
It was learned that the DENR Warriors is coached by DENR Officials from Region 8 with its Head Coach, Atty. Ernesto D. Adobo, Jr., CESO I, Undersecretary for Legal, Administration, Human Resources and Legislative Affairs and Atty. Norlito A. Eneran, LL.M., CESO III, Director for Legal Affairs Service.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
