TNT finished an unfinished business from the previous leg and ruled Leg 5 of the PBA 3x3 Season 2 First Conference with a 21-13 clincher over J&T Express Sunday at Robinsons Place Novaliches.
The Tropang Giga unleashed a telling 15-4 closing barrage to transform a three-point deficit into a runaway victory that completed their redemption campaign in the two-day stop.
TNT got the job done a week after a bungled title drive in Leg 4 in Malabon, where it squandered a 20-13 upper-hand in a race-to-21 contest and lost to San Miguel Beer in overtime, 20-22.
In doing so, the Mau Belen-coached squad earned the distinction as the first team to win twice in the young season, adding to its triumph in the opening leg.
"Sobrang happy and blessed na nag-champion ulit," said TNT ace Almond Vosotros, whose team hiked its overall collection to seven leg wins and one conference championship since last year.
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Lervin Flores banged in seven points on a 6-of-8 shooting while Vosotros and Samboy de Leon added five each and Ping Exciminiano shot four, including the clinching two-ball, in TNT's latest feat worth P100,000.
J&T's Joseph Sedurifa, Keith Datu, Marvin Hayes and Robin Rono posted the league newcomer's second runner-up finish in five appearances. Sedurifa and Co. banked P50,000.
TNT and J&T set up a fight for gold after hurdling semifinal opponents Cavitex Braves, 21-16, and Pioneer Elastoseal, 22-21 (overtime), respectively.
The Braves, behind Jorey Napoles' heroics, went on to beat the Katibays, 20-14, for a podium finish and the P30,000 third place purse. (OL)
