WHO else to draw first blood in the PBA 3x3's Season 2 but perennial Leg 1 winner TNT?
Continuing a tradition from last year, the Tropang Giga reigned supreme in the First Conference kickoff leg Sunday at Robinsons Place Antipolo, capping an unbeaten run with a 21-19 overtime win over finals foe Meralco.
Almond Vosotros rifled in nine points spiked by a four-of-eight two-point clip while Ping Exciminiano scattered eight, including the golden layup, as TNT opened hostilities triumphantly anew after sweeping the first stops of the three conferences last season.
"Mindset namin is manalo sa Leg 1. Crucial kasi ang Leg 1 para maganda ang panimula sa season," said Exciminiano after top-ranked TNT's latest victory worth P100,000.
With Exciminiano and Vosotros as spearhead, TNT seized a 17-12 cushion going to the last 2:30 of regulation. But Meralco unleashed a 7-2 blast capped by Tonino Gonzaga's buzzer-beating equalizer from deep to force extra time.
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Samboy de Leon drove in to put TNT ahead, 20-19, then Exciminianio knocked down the clincher off a Vosotros assist to seal the deal.
De Leon and Lervin Flores chipped in two markers apiece for top-ranked TNT, which maintained its dominance amid a powered-up competition.
"Chemistry ang naging advantage namin kasi magkakasama na kami last conference pa," said Vosotros.
It was TNT's third straight time to beat Meralco for leg honors since last year.
The Bolts' new-look crew of Gonzaga, Alfred Batino, Ken Mocon and Leo de Vera settled for the P50,000 runner-up purse.
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Earlier, the Tropang Giga outduelled tough guest team J&T Express, 18-15, while the Bolts outlasted Platinum Karaoke in extra time, 18-16, to arrange a title showdown.
Platinum crew TH Tumalip, Yves Sazon, Yutien Andrada and Nico Salva took third place honors worth P30,000 after beating J&T, 12-10. (OL)
