MERALCO 3x3 stole the thunder from Limitless as it grabbed the Pool A lead in the PBA 3x3 Lakas ng Tatlo Second Conference Leg 6 opener Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Bolts racked up three straight wins highlighted by their 22-18 disposal of the Appmasters to secure a quarterfinal seat with a game to spare in pool play.
Tonino Gonzaga, Dexter Maiquez, Joseph Sedurifa and Maclean Sabellina opened hostilities on a winning note against Sista Super Sealers, 21-11, and NorthPort, 21-13, ahead of their heavyweight showdown with Limitless.
Sabellina knocked down a bucket and a completed two-point to touch off an 11-4 windup that powered Meralco past the Appmasters, who struggled to a 1-2 start in the five-team group for third behind the Bolts and Barangay Ginebra (2-1).
The Legs 3 and 5 winner Appmasters beat the Batang Pier in their opening match, 22-15 but fell to a Ginebra ambush, 17-21, before their loss to the Bolts.
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Encho Serrano and Jollo Go provided the clutch hits as the Gin Kings upstaged Limitless to follow up on their 21-11 drubbing of Sista. Ginebra's setback came at the hands of NorthPort, 16-21.
Meralco and Ginebra face off Wednesday at the end of pool action in a virtual battle for No.1 in Pool A while Limitless and Sista, also with 1-2, dispute the No. 3 seed of the group and last ticket to the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, TnT and Pioneer Pro Tibay stormed to 2-0 cards in Pool B while Purefoods posted similar back-to-back wins to show the way in Pool C.
The Tropang Giga, who reactivated Samboy de Leon for the final leg of the conference, nipped Terrafirma 3x3, 21-16, and San Miguel Beer, 21-18, while Pioneer booked wins at the expense of the Beermen, 17-16, and the Dyip, 16-12.
For their part, the Titans seized pole position with their conquests of Master Sardines, 21-9, and Platinum, 21-17.
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Platinum ran second with 1-1, its victory coming at the expense of Cavitex, 21-16. The Braves are also at 1-1, having defeated the Fishing Champs, 21-16.
Six games wrap up the group stages Wednesday beginning at 9 a.m. also at the Big Dome with the knockout for the last quarterfinal berth and the Last-8, semis, and finals set immediately after. (OL)
The Scores:
Game 1
Limitless 22 - Caduyac 7, Rosser 6, Napoles 5, Hayes 4.
NorthPort 15 - Webb 5, Revilla 5, Calisaan 4, Olayon 1.
Game 2
Ginebra 21 - Serrano 7, Go 6, David 4, Villamor 4.
Sista 11 - Manlangit 4, Jamon 4, Mocon 3, De Vera 0.
Game 3
Pioneer Pro Tibay 17 - Ro?o 7, Rivera 7, Abrigo 2, Escalambre 1.
SMB 16 - Bono 7, Manday 6, Vigil 3, Mangahas 0.
Game 4
CAVITEX 21 - Rivero 8, Reyes 7, Fajardo 4, Fonacier 2.
Master Sardines 16 - Hernandez 6, Mabayo 4, Mahari 4, Comia 2.
Game 5
Meralco 21 - Maiquez 8, Gonzaga 6, Sedurifa 5, Sabellina 2.
Sista 11 - Manlangit 7, De Vera 2, Jamon 2, Mocon 0.
Game 6
NorthPort 21 - Webb 8, Revilla 7, Calisaan 3, Olayon 3.
Ginebra 16 - Serrano 7, Go 6, David 2, Villamor 1.
Game 7
TNT 21 - De Leon 7, Flores 7, Vosotros 4, Javier 3.
Terrafirma 16 - Reverente 6, Taladua 4, Tumalip 3, Bulawan 3.
Game 8
Purefoods TJ 21 - Eriobu 8, Bonsubre 5, Javelona 5, Mendoza 3.
Master Sardines 9 - Mabayo 4, Mahari 3, Hernandez 2, Comia 0.
Game 9
Barangay Ginebra 21 - Serrano 10, Go 5, David 5, Villamor 1.
Limitless 17 - Rosser 7, Caduyac 5, Napoles 3, Hayes 2.
Game 10
Meralco 21 - Gonzaga 9, Sedurifa 6, Maiquez 5, Sabellina 1.
NorthPort 13 - Webb 8, Olayon 2, Calisaan 2, Revilla 1.
Game 11
TNT 21 - Vosotros 10, De Leon 5, Flores 4, Javier 2.
SMB 18 - Bono 7, Vigil 5, Manday 5, Mangahas 1.
Game 12
Platinum Karaoke 21 - Banal 10, Alabanza 5, Monteclaro 4, Andrada 2.
CAVITEX 16 - Fajardo 6, Reyes 5, Rivero 4, Fonacier 1.
Game 13
Meralco 22 - Gonzaga 8, Maiquez 7, Sabellina 4, Sedurifa 3.
Limitless 18 - Napoles 11, Rosser 4, Hayes 2, Caduyac 1.
Game 14
Pioneer Pro Tibay 16 - Escalambre 8, Abrigo 4, Ro?o 2, Rivera 2.
Terrafirma 12 - Taladua 4, Tumalip 3, Reverente 3, Bulawan 2.
Game 15
Sista 16 - Jamon 6, De Vera 4, Mocon 3, Manlangit 3.
NorthPort 13 - Webb 4, Olayon 4, Revilla 4, Calisaan 1.
Game 16
Purefoods TJ 21 - Mendoza 10, Eriobu 8, Bonsubre 3, Javelona 0.
Platinum Karaoke 17 - Banal 9, Monteclaro 3, Alabanza 3, Andrada 2.
