THREE-leg winner and No. 1 seed TNT put the cherry on top by hoisting the PBA 3x3 Season 2 First Conference crown.
The fancied Tropang Giga played true to form in a hard-fought grand final battle with Platinum Karaoke, scoring a 20-17 clincher behind the clutch baskets of Gryann Mendoza and Almond Vosotros Sunday night at Robinsons Place Novaliches.
Mendoza drilled in the go-ahead layup while Vosotros sank the dagger freethrows as the Tropang Giga quashed their cramping but no-quit challengers who forced them to a 17-17 deadlock.
Vosotros finished with eight while Mendoza shot seven, Lervin Flores had three markers plus eight rebounds and Ping Exciminiano contributed one to clear the way for TNT's latest triumph worth P750,000.
The troops of Coach Mau Belen duplicated their feat in the Third Conference of Season 1, in the process becoming the first team to rule two conferences in the two-year-old league.
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"Can't even describe it (pride for players). Sa practice pa lang, everyday, we take it seriously and we make sure we stay focused kung gusto naming maulit yung nagawa namin last conference," said Mau Belen.
TNT went on a 5-0 start and had control most of the way against the sixth-seeded guest team, which came from the pool play to contend for the top plum.
Platinum kept fighting back and drew level with TNT with still 48.6 seconds to go.
However, the Tropang Giga's championship poise ultimately sealed the outcome.
With their best franchise finish, Platinum's Nico Salva, TH Tumalip, Brandon Bates and Yutien Andrada settled for runner-up honors and banked P250,000.
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Cavitex, meanwhile, joined TNT and Platinum in the podium after beating Meralco 3x3 in the duel for third, 16-11. The Braves netted P100,000.
Vosotros added a feather to his cap by winning the Smart Top Scorer. The TNT gunner amassed 263 points to beat J&T's Joseph Sedurifa (190) Cavitex's Bong Galanza (173) for the accolade. (OL)
