PUREFOODS completed a long trek back to the top with a vengeful 20-16 victory over multi-leg winner TnT in the battle for Leg 6 top honors in the PBA 3x3 Third Conference Sunday at Robinsons Place Manila.
Joseph Eriobu turned in an 11-point sizzler in the leg finale, highlighting his heroics with three two-pointers that helped the hot-starting Titans seize a comfortable 14-6 spread against the Tropang Giga.
Jed Mendoza (four points), Jun Bonsubre (three) and Marvin Hayes (two) complemented Eriobu's stellar outing as Purefoods secured its first leg win since reigning supreme back in Leg 4 of the First Conference.
It was also sweet revenge for the Titans for their previous defeat to the Tropang Giga in the Conference 3 Leg 3 finale and the quarterfinals of the last week's fifth leg.
"Sabi ko sa kanila, kung sino'ng mas gutom na team, yun ang mananalo dito. Nag-commit naman lahat sila sa game para makuha namin ito," said Hayes, the most seasoned in the squad, having previously suited up for First Conference champion Limitless and the bronze-winning Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 in the Southeast Asian Games.
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TnT's Almond Vosotros, Lervin Flores, Samboy de Leon and Ping Exciminiano settled for the P50,000 runner-up purse but remained the most bemedalled crew of the season-ending conference with triumphs in the first, third and fourth legs plus two second place finishes.
Purefoods prevailed over Platinum Karaoke in the quarterfinals, 21-15, and Meralco in the semifinals, 19-17, to reach their second leg finale of the conference.
On the other hand, TnT disposed of quarters rival Cavitex, 21-16, and semis foe Limitless App, 18-16, to take its familiar spot in the duel for first place.
Meralco's Dexter, Maiquez, Tonino Gonzaga, Alfred Batino and JJ Espanola took home third place worth P30,000 after squeaking past the Appmasters, 18-17. (OL)
The Scores:
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Limitless Appmasters vs. San Miguel Beermen
San Miguel Beermen 21 - Bono 10, Manday 6, Comboy 3, Gamalinda 2.
Limitless Appmasters 15 - Napoles 8, Camacho 3, Salva 3, Arambulo 1.
TNT Tropang Giga vs. Zamboanga Valientes
TNT Tropang Giga 21 - Vosotros 13, De Leon 5, Flores 2, Exciminiano 1.
Zamboanga Valientes 16 - Juntilla 8, Vaygan 4, Alcantara 2, Ferrer 2.
CAVITEX Braves vs. Master Sardines
CAVITEX Braves 21 - Saldua 6, Fajardo 5, Galanza 5, Rivero 5.
Master Sardines 17 - Javillonar 7, Lopez 4, Torres 4, Teng 2.
Meralco vs. Terrafirma
Meralco 18 - Espanola 5, Maiquez 5, Batino 4, Gonzaga 4.
Terrafirma 16 - Taladua 8, Alanes 6, Cachuela 2, Bulawan 0.
Quarterfinals
Platinum Karaoke vs. Purefoods TJ Titans
Purefoods TJ Titans 21 - Eriobu 12, Mendoza 6, Hayes 2, Bonsubreb1.
Platinum Karaoke 15 - De Chavez 8, Bagatsing 3, Banal 3, Alabanza 1.
Quarterfinals
TNT Tropang Giga 21 - Vosotros 12, Flores 6, De Leon 3, Exciminiano 1.
CAVITEX Braves 16 - Galanza 8, Rivero 5, Saldua 2, Fajardo 1.
Quarterfinals
Meralco Bolts 19 - Gonzaga 6, Batino 5, Espanola 4, Maiquez 4.
San Miguel Beermen 13 - Manday 6, Comboy 3, Bono 2, Gamalinda 2.
Quarterfinals
Limitless Appmasters 17 - Napoles 7, Camacho 5, Salva 4, Arambulo 1.
Sista Super Sealers 15 - Mocon 7, Manlangit 5, Octobre 3, Jamon 0.
Semis
Purefoods TJ Titans 19 - Eriobu 7, Mendoza 7, Bonsubre 3, Hayes 2.
Meralco Bolts 17 - Gonzaga 8, Maiquez 5, Batino 3, Espa?ola 1.
Semis
TNT Tropang Giga 18 - Vosotros 10, Exciminiano 4, Flores 3, De Leon 1.
Limitless Appmasters 16 - Napoles 7, Camacho 6, Arambulo 3, Salva 0.
Battle for 3rd
Meralco Bolts 18 - Gonzaga 7, Maiquez 5, Batino 4, Espa?ola 2.
Limitless Appmasters 17 - Napoles 8, Salva 5, Arambulo 2, Camacho 2.
Finals
Purefoods TJ Titans 20 - Eriobu 11, Mendoza 4, Bonsubre 3, Hayes 2.
TNT Tropang Giga 16 - Vosotros 11, De Leon 2, Flores 2, Exciminiano 1.
