LIMITLESS continued playing the role of heartbreaker to TnT in the PBA 3x3 Lakas ng Tatlo half-court wars.
Victorious in three previous leg finale faceoffs in the inaugural season, the Appmasters reasserted their mastery and beat the Tropang Giga for the Second Conference Leg 5 honors, 22-19, Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Jorey Napoles dropped 11 points spiked by five two-point baskets while Brandon Rosser added five, including the clinching deuce, as Leg 3 victor Limitless returned to the top after settling for second to Meralco in the previous fourth leg.
"Last leg, we had a bad taste in our mouth as we finished second. We just re-focused during the break and we're able to bounce back and outlast TNT today," said Rosser, whose team netted P100,000 for this latest feat.
Overall, it was the fourth time the Appmasters won the leg plum at the expense of TNT in the three-a-side league. They previously did the trick in Leg 3 of the ongoing conference and in the fifth and sixth stops of the First Conference.
Sponsored content:
Almond Vosotros rifled in 11 in a losing cause for the Tropang Giga, who banked P50,000 for this finish.
Vosotros and Co. went through the wringer before getting a crack at the Leg 5 diadem.
Finishing third in Pool C, TNT had to engage Pool B No. 3 Master Sardines in a knockout for the eighth and last quarterfinal ticket.
With Vosotros' 13-point sizzler, the Tropang Giga overpowered the Fishing Champs, 21-7 and took care of business in the quarters with a 22-18 disposal of Pool A topnotcher Pioneer Pro Tibay.
TNT continued the charge and moved on to the championship via a 22-18 verdict over Platinum Karaoke.
Sponsored content:
Southeast Asian Games-bound Limitless, which swept the three-game elims in Pool B, stamped its class on San Miguel Beer in the quarters, 21-16, then demolished Purefoods, 21-9, to book its familiar place in the finals.
Platinum later grabbed third place honors worth P30,000 after edging Purefoods, 18-17, on a Chris de Chavez layup. (OL)
Game 17
Platinum Karaoke 18 - Banal 7, Monteclaro 6, De Chavez 3, Andrada 2.
CAVITEX 17 - Rivero 10, Fajardo 5, Reyes 1, Fonacier 1.
Game 18
Purefoods TJ 21 - Eriobu 9, Mendoza 5, Acuna 4, Bonsubre 3.
Terrafirma 10 - Taladua 4, Bulawan 2, Tumalip 2, Reverente 2.
Game 19
Sista 19 - Jamon 8, Mocon 7, Gabawan 2, Manlangit 2.
Master Sardines 17 - Hernandez 6, Comia 4, Mabayo 4, Mahari 3.
Game 20
Pioneer Pro Tibay 20 - Rivera 13, De Chavez 3, Abrigo 2, Rono 2.
Meralco 16 - Gonzaga 8, Maiquez 5, Sedurifa 2, Sabellina 1.
Game 21
Limitless 21 - Napoles 10, Rosser 5, Caduyac 4, Hayes 2.
Ginebra 9 - Serrano 8, David 1, Go, 0, Villamor 0.
Game 22
SMB 21 - Bono 13, Manday 4, Rogado 3, Vigil 1.
TNT 16 - Javier 7, Vosotros 6, Gozum 2, Flores 1.
Knockout for 8th
TNT 21 - Vosotros 13, Gozum 4, Javier 3, Flores 1.
Master Sardines 7 - Hernandez 3, Mabayo 2, Mahari 2, Comia 0.
Quarterfinals
Purefoods TJ 21 - Acuna 8, Eriobu 7, Mendoza 4, Bonsubre 2.
Meralco 13 - Maiquez 5, Gonzaga 3, Sedurifa 3, Sabellina 2.
Quarterfinals
Platinum Karaoke 21 - De Chavez 13, Andrada 4, Monteclaro 2, Banal 2.
Sista 17 - Mocon 8, Jamon 5, Manlangit 4, Gabawan 0.
Quarterfinals
TNT 22 - Vosotros 12, Flores 5, Gozum 3, Javier 2.
Pioneer 18 - Rono 6, De Chavez 5, Abrigo 5, Rivera 2.
Quarterfinals
Limitless 21 - Rosser 13, Hayes 3, Caduyac 3, Napoles 2.
SMB 16 - Manday 5, Rogado 4, Vigil 4, Bono 3.
Semifinals
TNT 21 - Flores 7, Vosotros 6, Javier 5, Gozum 3.
Platinum Karaoke 15 - De Chavez 6, Monteclaro 6, Banal 2, Andrada 1.
Semifinals
Limitless 21 - Rosser 9, Caduyac 5, Napoles 5, Hayes 2.
Purefoods TJ 9 - Acuna 4, Bonsubre 2, Mendoza 2, Eriobu 1.
Battle for 3rd
Platinum Karaoke 18 - Monteclaro 6, De Chavez 5, Andrada 4, Banal 3.
Purefoods TJ 17 - Eriobu 8, Bonsubre 5, Mendoza 3, Acuna 1.
Finals
Limitless 22 - Napoles 11, Rosser 5, Caduyac 4, Hayes 2.
TNT 19 - Vosotros 11, Flores 6, Javier 1, Gozum 1.
