Senate President Koko Pimentel III on Monday congratulated the Senate’s basketball team for bagging the Makabansa Basketball League Championship at the Meralco Fitness Center.
The Senate Advocates, led by co-captains Senator Sonny Angara and Senator Joel Villanueva, and steered by playing coach lawyer Rodelio Dascil, won 76-75 over the Philippine Star Troopers, ending the finals series at 2-1.
“On behalf of the Senate family, I congratulate my fellow senators and their teammates from the Senate for the honor that they have brought to our institution”, said Pimentel.
The Senate’s effort was led by Mark Anthony Marcos, who contributed 18 points, nine rebounds, and five assists.
The game was decided on the clutch free throw shooting of Michael Dan Omega, who split his charities and gave the Senate a one-point lead with 4.3 seconds left in the game.
The Senate Advocates intend to donate their cash prize amounting to P200,000 to Tahanang Walang Hagdan, a social enterprise that seeks to empower persons with disabilities (PWDs).
The senate chief pledged to add ₱50,000 to their donation as a token of the Senate’s appreciation of their victory.
The senate head also applauded the Philippine Star Troopers, the first-runner up of the tournament.
Pimentel said, “The series standing and the final game’s score showed how close the match was. Such a thrilling league final series would not have been possible without the outstanding effort and sportsmanship on the part of the Philippine Star Troopers.”