J&T Express seeks to maintain a high level of performance after cracking the winners' circle in the PBA 3x3 Season 2.
Six days after stopping TNT and copping its breakthrough triumph in Leg 2, the first-year guest team plots a repeat in the third leg of the Second Conference, which begins Saturday at Robinsons Place Novaliches.
Coach Ryan Monteclaro made a minor tweak in the roster, bringing in Jeric Teng in lieu of veteran Marvin Hayes to join Leg 2 hero Joseph Sedurifa, Keith Datu and Robin Rono in this bid.
J&T enters the two-day competition riding the crest of a massive 21-19 overtime toppling of the Tropang Giga, who settled for runner-up honors after previously ruling Leg 1 as well as the fifth and sixth legs and grand champion of the preceding First Conference.
"We enjoyed the victory for sure but at the end of the day, this is really a marathon," Monteclaro said when the team appeared in The Game on One Sports.
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"Everyday, we're growing and improving. We trust one another and we're building that chemistry, hoping to keep growing and win more championships," said Fil-Am big man Datu.
The Express kick off their quest in Pool A, where they battle Purefoods and Meralco 3x3 for berths to Sunday's quarterfinals.
The Tropang Giga, who welcomed back Gryann Mendoza after missing the first two legs to partner with Almond Vosotros, Lervin Flores and Ray Mark Acuno, vie in Pool B versus Terrafirma and Blackwater.
Leg 2 third placer Cavitex, represented by Sherwin Concepcion, Dominick Fajardo, Jorey Napoles and Bong Galanza, campaigns in Pool C against Platinum Karaoke, and San Miguel Beer, which parades new recruits Chris de Chavez and Jam Jamito.
Barangay Ginebra leads Pool D with Pioneer Elastoseal and NorthPort as initial rivals.
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Twelve pool games starting at 11 a.m. feature in Day 1 with the top 2 from each group returning Sunday for the knockout stages of the mid-conference leg, where a winner's purse of P100,000 is at stake. (OL)
