FROM the conference and leg winners of the inaugural season to the combatants still hunting for that breakthrough to the two promising debutants, the 12 teams are all raring to get their campaigns in Season 2 of the PBA 3x3 to a rousing start.
The competitors fire the opening salvo on Saturday at Robinsons Place Antipolo with the initial aim of cracking the quarterfinals set for Sunday.
TNT, champion of the Third Conference and ruler of five legs in Season 1, the Pioneer Elasto Seal Katibays, the Second Conference rulers, and souped-up Cavitex Braves feature in Pool A action.
New-look Meralco 3x3, winner of three legs last year, Barangay Ginebra and NorthPort mix it up in Pool B while Platinum Karaoke, Terrafirma 3x3 and maiden campaigner Blackwater Red President face off in Pool C. Three-winner San Miguel Beer, two-leg victor Purefoods TJ Titans and debuting guest squad J&T Express duel in Pool D.
The top two teams in each group advance to the Last-8 for a chance to contend for the first leg honors of the season and the P100,000 top purse.
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A heavy 12-game bill ushers in the new season's hostilities beginning with the 11 a.m. Pool A showdown between Pioneer and Cavitex.
Majority of the teams beefed up their respective rosters while the Tropang Giga brought back the tested core of Almond Vosotros, Lervin Flores and Samboy de Leon and tapped Ping Exciminiano for the fourth spot in the opening leg bid.
Some big names from Season 1 are wearing new jerseys for this season like Jorey Napoles (Cavitex), Reymar Caduyac and Leo de Vera (Meralco), Prince Rivero (Blackwater), TH Tumalip (Platinum), JR Alabanza and Chris de Chavez (Purefoods), and Marvin Hayes and Joseph Sedurifa (J&T).
Among the new faces are Fil-foreigners Keith Datu (J&T) and Brandon Bates (Platinum) and Raffy Verano (SMB).
"I'm hoping for different winners each leg for this season," said PBA 3x3 chairman Richard Bachmann. "TNT retained its lineup and everyone else actually improved their lineups so it will be a competitive league." (OL)
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