MERALCO 3x3 turned on full power to stop Limitless' rampage and mark its own return to the top.
Using a 12-5 windup, the Bolts beat the Appmasters in the finale, 17-14, to win Leg 4 of the PBA 3x3 Lakas ng Tatlo Second Conference Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Dexter Maiquez topscored with six markers in the clincher for the Patrick Fran-coached Bolts, who captured their second leg title of the inaugural season following their previous Leg 2 triumph in the First Conference.
Alfred Batino added five, making four of them in a telling 9-0 salvo that led to a 14-9 cushion, while Tonino Gonzaga made a game-saving block on Reymar Caduyac on top of his five markers and Joseph Sedurifa contributed one point with five rebounds as Meralco snapped the Appmasters' 13-game win streak over the last three legs and deny them of back-to-back leg honors.
"Limitless is always a tough opponent, they're in the SEA Games for a reason, they're physically imposing and they have all the skills," said Gonzaga.
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Meralco banked P100,000 for topping the leg while Rosser, Caduyac, Marvin Hayes and Jorey Napoles netted P50,000.
It was the first title faceoff between the two perennial contenders in the three-a-side hoopfest.
The Appmasters, gaining from Caduyac's five-point spree in the last 1:17, disposed of TNT, 20-19, while the Bolts, behind the 13-point eruption of Tonino Gonzaga, nipped San Miguel Beer, 21-15, to follow suit.
The Tropang Giga later beat SMB, 21-17, to capture third place worth P30,000. (OL)
The Scores:
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Game 1 - Day 2
San Miguel 21 - Manday 12, Vigil 5, Bono 4, Mangahas 0.
Master Sardines 14 - Hernandez 6, Tabi 5, Mahari 3, Mabayo 0.
Game 2 - Day 2
Sista Super Sealers 22 - Jamon 8, Manlangit 6, De Vera 5, Mocon 3.
Platinum Karaoke - De Chavez 7, Monteclaro 3, Banal 2, Andrada 0.
Game 3 - Day 2
Barangay Ginebra 21 - Serrano 8, David 5, Villamor 5, Dyke 3.
Meralco Bolts 14 - Sedurifa 4, Gonzaga 4, Maiquez 4, Batino 2.
Game 4 - Day 2
Limitless Appmasters 19 - Rosser 7, Napoles 5, Caduyac 4, Hayes 3.
Cavitex Braves 15 - Rivero 6, Fajardo 6, Reyes 3.
Game 5 - Day 2
TNT Tropang Giga 21 - Vosotros 9, Gozum 5, Flores 5, Acuno 2.
Pioneer Pro Tibay 20 - De Chavez 9, Ro?o 6, Abrigo 3, Rivera 2.
Game 6 - Day 2
Purefoods TJ Titans 21 - Eriobu 10, Javelona 7, Bonsubre 3, Eguilos 1.
Terrafirma 20 - Tubid 7, Tumalip 6, Reverente 5, Taladua 2.
Knockout for 8th Seed
Pioneer Pro Tibay 21 - Abrigo 9, Rono 8, Rivera 2, De Chavez 2.
Purefoods TJ Titans 18 - Eriobu 9, Bonsubre 4, Javelona 4, Eguilos 1.
QF1
TNT Tropang Giga 21 - Gozum 9, Flores 6, Vosotros 5, Acuno 1.
Master Sardines 16 - Hernandez 12, Tabi 3, Mahari 1, Mabayo 0.
QF 2
Meralco Bolts 19 - Gonzaga 12, Sedurifa 3, Maiquez 2, Batino 2.
Platinum Karaoke 16 - Banal 10, De Chavez 4, Andrada 2, Monteclaro 0.
QF 3
Limitless Appmasters 22 - Rosser 9, Caduyac 5, Napoles 5, Hayes 3.
Pioneer Pro Tibay 20 - Abrigo 6, Rivera 6, De Chavez 4, Rono 4.
QF 4
San Miguel 21 - Manday 8, Bono 8, Vigil 3, Mangahas 2.
Ginebra 16 - Serrano 8, Villamor 6, David 1, Dyke 1.
SEMIS 1
Limitless Appmasters 20 - Napoles 9, Caduyac 7, Rosser 4, Hayes 0.
TNT Tropang Giga 19 - Vosotros 13, Flores 4, Gozum 1, Acuno 1.
SEMIS 2
Meralco 21 - Gonzaga 13, Batino 4, Sedurifa 3, Maiquez 1.
San Miguel 15 - Manday 7, Bono 4, Mangahas 2, Vigil 2.
Battle for 3rd
TNT 21 - Vosotros 11, Flores 7, Gozum 2, Acuno 1.
SMB 17 - Manday 14, Bono 3, Vigil 0, Mangahas 0.
Finals
Meralco Bolts 17 - Maiquez 6, Gonzaga 5, Batino 5, Sedurifa 1.
Limitless Appmasters 14 - Napoles 6, Caduyac 5, Rosser 3, Hayes 0.
