WHO else but the TNT Tropang Giga?
As with the four previous conferences the PBA 3x3 has staged since last year, the Tropang Giga drew first blood in the Second Conference of Season 2 Sunday at Robinsons Place Antipolo.
And the Tropang Giga did it in dramatic fashion, banking on a huge two-point basket from Gryann Mendoza to clinch it at the expense of familiar foe Platinum Karaoke via a 17-15 overtime thriller.
Mendoza's long bomb, which game officials thoroughly reviewed before confirming as a deuce, saved the day after the Tropang Giga squandered a 10-6 lead in regulation.
The triumph not only maintained TNT's stranglehold on Legs 1 but also continued its winning streak that counted the fifth and sixth legs and the Grand Finals of the preceding First Conference.
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Overall, the league's winningest team has copped nine leg honors and two conference crowns.
"Every opportunity, gina-grab talaga namin kasi hindi natin alam kung kailan ito darating. So hangga't may chance makapaglaro at makagawa ng record, iga-grab namin," TNT ace Almond Vosotros said.
Vosotros, Lervin Flores, Mendoza and Ping Exciminiano produced their latest feat and banked P100,000 a week after ruling the First Conference crown against the same tough Platinum crew, 20-17.
"Siguro may hang over pa kami from the Grand Finals at medyo nabitbit namin sa first leg," said Exciminiano. "We hope ma-continue namin itong winning ways."
Vosotros rifled in eight while Flores shot five and Mendoza added four in the gold medal match versus Platinum's TH Tumalip (five), Nico Salva (four), Brandon Bates (four) and Yutien Andrada (two), who settled for back-to-back runner-up finishes and netted P50,000.
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The Tropang Giga even held a 15-13 cushion with 1:20 left but Platinum didn't quit and forced the tie behind the baskets of Andrada and Salva and the big defensive stop of Tumalip on Mendoza at the end of regulation.
Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra beat Cavitex, 21-13, for a podium finish and P30,000.(OL)
