| UNTV Cup PBA Legends Face-Off 2019 | |
| Other Titles: | PBA Legends Face-Off 2019 |
| Country: | Philippines |
| Dates: | June 2, 2019 – July 8, 2019 |
| Num Teams: | 4 |
| Winners: | Alaska |
| Second: | San Miguel |
| Third: | Purefoods |
| Fourth: | Ginebra |
| Matches: | 10 |
| Stat Leader Title: | Scoring leader(s) |
| Stat Leader Player: | Vince Hizon |
| Stat Leader Value: | 95 points |
| Prev Season: | Season 7 Exec Face Off 2018 |
| Next Season: | Season 8 Exec Face Off 2023 |
The 2019 UNTV Cup PBA Legends Face-Off was the 4th off-season tournament of the annual charity basketball league in the Philippines, UNTV Cup. It is the first off-season games that featured PBA teams (although composed of alumni players), and a follow-up to the successful reunion charity event PBA Legends: Return of the Rivals last February 17, 2019.[1] [2] [3] The tournament was organized by UNTV-37 Foundation, Inc., through its chairman and chief executive officer of BMPI-UNTV, Kuya Daniel Razon, more popularly known as Mr. Public Service.
The month-long tournament officially opened on June 2, 2019 at the Pasig City Sports Complex, Pasig, with four teams vying for the championship title.[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] Regular games were held at the same venue with a delayed telecast on UNTV channel every Sunday afternoon.
A total of 2 million pesos tax-free was given to the PBA Legends Foundation Incorporated, with the champion team taking home a trophy and 1 million pesos donated to the institution.[2] [3] [7]
This event marked the fourth time UNTV will be holding a tournament for the benefit of former basketball players. In 2015, the Skywalker Exhibition Game was held and benefited the legendary Samboy Lim of San Miguel Beer. In 2017, UNTV Cup founder Daniel Razon granted P1 million seed money to the PBA Legends Foundation after an exhibition game. In 2018, the foundation organized the first ever PBA Legends Charity Golf Tournament, and extended assistance to former player Joey Mente who succumbed to cancer, and ex-Crispa guard Johnny Revilla.[2]
The finals game was held on July 8, 2019 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. It was between the undefeated San Miguel Beermen and #2 team Alaska Milkmen. Alaska escaped San Miguel on a close battle, 77–75, to get the championship and donate 1 million pesos to the PBA Legends Foundation.[8] [9]
There were 4 squads who vied for the championship title of the off-season. PBA alumni players 40 years old and above are eligible to participate in the competition.[3] All participants are returning teams from the successful reunion charity event PBA Legends: Return of the Rivals last February 17, 2019.[1]
| PBA Team | Moniker | Colours | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | align=center; | |||
| Barangay Ginebra[10] | align=center; | |||
| Purefoods | align=center; | |||
| San Miguel[11] | align=center; |
The Alaska team is composed of the players listed below.[3] [7]
The Ginebra team is composed of the players listed below.[3] [7] [10]
The Purefoods team is composed of the players listed below.[3] [7]
The San Miguel team is composed of the players listed below.[3] [7] [11]
The off season officially opened on June 2, 2019 at the Pasig City Sports Complex, Pasig, with four teams vying for the championship title.[4] [5] Regular games were held at the same venue with a delayed telecast on UNTV channel every Sunday afternoon.
| Date | Game No. | Competing Teams | Scores | Top Performer(s) | Venue | Links | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2, 2019 | 1 [18] [19] | San Miguel def. Purefoods | 88–68 | Kiko Adriano[20] | Pasig City Sports Center | Watch Boxscore Highlights | |
| June 2, 2019 | 2 [21] | Alaska def. Ginebra | 90–83 | Willie Miller[22] | Pasig City Sports Center | Watch Boxscore Highlights | |
| June 9, 2019 | 3 [23] [24] | San Miguel def. Alaska | 76–61 | Danny Ildefonso Allan Caidic | Pasig City Sports Center | Watch Boxscore Highlights | |
| June 9, 2019 | 4 [25] | Ginebra def. Purefoods | 100–83 | Vince Hizon Jayjay Helterbrand | Pasig City Sports Center | Watch Boxscore Highlights | |
| June 16, 2019 | 5 [26] [27] | Alaska def. Purefoods | 92–70 | Johnny Abarrientos[28] | Pasig City Sports Center | Watch Boxscore Highlights | |
| June 16, 2019 | 6 [29] | San Miguel def. Ginebra | 135–107 | Allan Caidic[30] Nic Belasco | Pasig City Sports Center | Watch Boxscore Highlights |
The playoffs began on June 23, 2019 at the Pasig City Sports Center in Pasig. The knockout stages present the #1 team face the #4 team, while #2 battles #3. Undefeated San Miguel and #2 Alaska holds a twice-to-beat advantage against winless Purefoods and #3 Ginebra, respectively.[31] [32] [33]
The battle for third place was between #3 Ginebra and #4 Purefoods, after they lost their semifinals series on separate opponents.[34] Purefoods won the game, 98–75, after taking advantage of a tired Ginebra team in the fourth quarter. The Hotdogs got ₱300,000 for the PBA Legends Foundation as third placer. Despite the loss, Ginebra received ₱200,000 for charity as fourth placer.[9] [35]
The finals game will be held on July 8, 2019 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City. The championship is between the undefeated and #1 team San Miguel and #2 team Alaska.[34] [36] Alaska escaped San Miguel on a close battle, 77–75, to get the championship and donate 1 million pesos to the PBA Legends Foundation.[8] [9]
In total, the prize pool this season is 2 million pesos (₱2,000,000). The lone beneficiary for this off season is the PBA Legends Foundation, for the benefit of former professional basketball players who are either sick or in need of financial help.[3] [16] [37] The champion team Alaska donates the ₱1 million top prize, the runner-up San Miguel gives ₱500,000, third place Purefoods ₱300,000, and Ginebra ₱200,000 as fourth placers.[7] [35] [34]
| Place | Team | Beneficiary | Cash Prize | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champion | PBA Legends Foundation | ₱1,000,000 | ||
| Runner-up | PBA Legends Foundation | ₱500,000 | ||
| 3rd | PBA Legends Foundation | ₱300,000 | ||
| 4th | PBA Legends Foundation | ₱200,000 |
| width=10px bgcolor="gold" | Champion | ||
| width=10px bgcolor="silver" | Runner-up | ||
| width=10px bgcolor="#ccffcc" | Semifinalist |
| Team | GP | W | L | PCT | Best finish | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 4 | 1 | Champion | |||
| 5 | 4 | 1 | Runner-up | |||
| 5 | 1 | 4 | Third Place | |||
| 5 | 1 | 4 | Semifinalist |
| Team | GP | W | L | PCT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | |||
| 3 | 2 | 1 | |||
| 3 | 1 | 2 | |||
| 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Team | GP | W | L | PCT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | |||
| 2 | 1 | 1 | |||
| 2 | 1 | 1 | |||
| 2 | 0 | 2 |
The Heart of a Champion segment features UNTV Cup players and their lives off the court as public servants.
| Air Date | Featured Player | Team | Link | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 9, 2019 | Allan Caidic | San Miguel Beermen | [38] | |
| June 16, 2019 | Jojo Lastimosa | Alaska Milkmen | ||
| June 23, 2019 | Alvin Patrimonio | Purefoods Hotdogs | ||
| June 23, 2019 | Pido Jarencio | Ginebra | [39] |
The following segment features the top plays of the week.
UNTV Cup PBA Legends Face Off players and fans share their thoughts in interviews.