TNT ended its season-long search for a follow-up to its opening-leg wins with a victorious campaign in Leg 3 of the PBA 3x3 Third Conference.
Behind another explosion by Almond Vosotros and a clutch performance by Gryan Mendoza, the Tropang Giga finished off finals rival Purefoods, 21-13, to complete their breakthrough feat in Tuesday's third leg at Robinsons Magnolia.
The ever-reliable Vosotros rifled in 12 spiked by four two-pointers while Mendoza added six, all in the stretch where the Tropang Giga took the fight out of the Titans with a 12-5 salvo, for the clincher.
Vosotros, Mendoza, Ping Exciminiano and Lervin Flores went home with the P100,000 winner's purse but more importantly, claimed a second leg victory in a conference for the first time in the inaugural season.
In each of the first two conferences, the Tropang Giga topped the Leg 1 competitions but fell short in their quest for more in the next five legs and the conference grand finals.
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"Before first leg champion lang kami every conference; at least ngayon na-break na," said Vosotros, whose team hiked its collection to four legs overall. "Marami pa rin kami dapat i-work maging successful pa sa mga susunod."
The Mau Belen-coached Tropang Giga earlier nosed out Leg 2 winner Meralco 3x3 in the semis, 18-14 behind Vosotros' 12-pointer. Prior to this, the Tropang Giga outclassed quarterfinal opponent Sista Super Sealers, 21-16.
In paving their way to the finals, Titans edged Limitless in the Last-8, 21-19, then rallied past Platinum Karaoke in the semis, 18-16.
Joseph Eriobu, Val Acuna, Jed Mendoza and new acquisition Marvin Hayes settled for runner-up honors worth P50,000.
Meanwhile, Platinum beat the Bolts, 14-12, for third place and P30,000. (OL)
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The Scores:
Game 15
Meralco 21 - Sedurifa 8, Gonzaga 7, Batino 3, Maiquez 3.
NorthPort 19 - Parcero 7, Zamora 6, Revilla 4, Webb 2.
Game 16
CAVITEX 21 - Fajardo 7, Galanza 7, Soberano 5, Rangel 2.
TNT 17 - Exciminiano 7, Vosotros 6, Mendoza 2, Flores 2.
Game 17
Platinum Karaoke 10 - Banal 6, Andrada 2, De Chavez 2, Bagatsing 0.
Pioneer Pro Tibay 7 - Rivera 5, Ugsang 1, Abrigo 1, Ro?o 0.
Game 18
Purefoods 21 - Eriobu 9, Hayes 6, Acu?a 4, Mendoza 2.
Terrafirma 11 - Cachuela 3, Ce?al 3, Alanes 3, Taladua 2.
Quarterfinals
TNT 21 - Vosotros 11, Exciminiano 4, Flores 4, Mendoza 2.
Sista 16 - Octobre 5, Mocon 5, Manlangit 3, Jamon 3.
Quarterfinals
Platinum Karaoke 21 - Andrada 7, Banal 7, De Chavez 5, Bagatsing 2.
SMB 15 - Bono 6, Comboy 4, Gamalinda 3, Manday 2.
Quarterfinals
Meralco 16 - Sedurifa 12, Gonzaga 2, Batino 1, Maiquez 1.
Master Sardines 14 - Teng 7, Javillonar 6, Lopez 1, Torres 0.
Quarterfinals
Purefoods TJ 21 - Eriobu 14, Mendoza 5, Hayes 2, Acu?a 0.
Limitless 19 - Tamsi 9, Salva 6, Camacho 3, Napoles 1.
Semifinals
TNT 18 - Vosotros 12, Mendoza 3, Flores 2, Exciminiano 1.
Meralco 14 - Sedurifa 4, Batino 4, Gonzaga 4, Maiquez 2.
Semifinals
Purefoods TJ 18 - Eriobu 13, Hayes 2, Mendoza 2, Acu?a 1.
Platinum Karaoke 16 - De Chavez 8, Banal 4, Bagatsing 3, Andrada 1.
Battle for Third
Platinum Karaoke 14 - Andrada 7, Banal 3, Bagatsing 3, De Chavez 1.
Meralco 12 - Sedurifa 5, Gonzaga 4, Batino 3, Maiquez 0.
Finals
TNT 21 - Vosotros 12, Mendoza 6, Flores 2, Exciminiano 1.
Purefoods TJ 13 - Mendoza 5, Eriobu 4, Acu?a 3, Hayes 1.
