TNT started the PBA 3x3 Third Conference the same way it opened the first two - with a leg win.
Tropang Giga stalwarts Samboy de Leon and Almond Vosotros and new teammates Gryann Mendoza and Ping Exciminiano continued the team's winning tradition and clinched the Leg 1 top honors with an 18-15 verdict over Barangay Ginebra Sunday at Robinsons Magnolia.
De Leon punched in seven points and sparked TnT to an early 13-9 cushion as Mendoza and Vosotros delivered clutch hits to bring the Tropang Giga to the finish line after the Gin Kings forced a 14-14 standoff.
Mendoza, a 3x3 debutant, scored five, including a four-point cluster off a foul by Leo de Vera that restored a 17-14 cushion, while Vosotros shot four capped by the insurance bucket with two seconds left.
Exciminiano contributed two as the Mau Belen-coached squad sealed a repeat of its conference-opening triumphs and netted P100,000.
Sponsored content:
"Malaking tulong ang dalawa naming bago para makuha namin ang first leg championship. Sana magtuloy-tuloy na (going to the next legs)," said Vosotros, whose crew swept Pool A then defeated San Miguel Beer (quarterfinals), 21-18, and Purefoods TJ Titans (semifinals), 21-13, prior to the finals win.
Gin Kings Denice Villamor, Mikey Cabahug and transferees Leo de Vera and Martin Gozum fell short of the squad's breakthrough win in the league and settled for second place worth P50,000.
The Titans took consolation by winning third place and P30,000 via a 19-17 verdict over fellow losing semifinalist Meralco. (OL)
The Scores:
Game 1
Terrafirma 21 - Alanes 9, Taladua 7, Bulawan 3, Ce?al 2.
Sponsored content:
Zamboanga 18 - Juntilla 9, Bernardo 5, Ferrer 3, Bederi 1.
Game 2
Cavitex 21: Soberano 10, Galanza 7, Rangel, 3 Rivero 1
Limitless 6: Salva 5, Napoles, 1, Tamsi 0
Game 3
Platinum Karaoke 17 - De Chavez 8, Alabanza 4, Bagatsing 3, Andrada 2.
SMB 16 - Bono 8, Comboy III 5, Mangahas 2, Gamalinda 1
Quarterfinals:
Purefoods TJ 18 - Eriobu 9, Bonsubre 4, Mendoza 3, Javelona 2.
Sista 17 - Jamon 7, Manlangit 6, Mocon, 3, Gabawan 1.
Meralco 19 - Sedurifa 7, Batino 5, Sabellina 4, Maiquez 3.
Cavitex Braves 17 - Soberano 6, Galanza 5, Rivero 5, Rangel 1.
PBA3x3 3rd Conference Leg 1 Day 2
Quarterfinals:
TNT 21 - Exciminiano 6, De Leon 5, Mendoza 5, Vosotros 5.
SMB 18 - Bono 9, Comboy III 4, Gamalinda 4, Mangahas 1.
Quarterfinals:
Ginebra 21 - Cabahug 11, Villamor 5, Gozum 3, De Vera 2.
Platinum Karaoke 20 - De Chavez 12, Andrada 7, Alabanza 1, Bagatsing 0.
Semifinals
TNT 21 - De Leon 8, Vosotros 8, Mendoza 3, Exciminiano 2.
Purefoods 13 - Javelona 6, Eriobu 4, Bonsubre 2, Mendoza 1.
Semifinals:
Ginebra 13 - Cabahug 6, Gozum 6, De Vera 1, Villamor 0.
Meralco 10 - Batino 5, Sabellina 2, Sedurifa 2, Maiquez 1.
Battle for 3rd:
Purefoods 19 - Eriobu 9, Javelona 8, Bonsubre 1, Mendoza 1.
Meralco 17 - Sedurifa 7, Maiquez 6, Sabellina 3, Batino 1.
Finals:
TNT 18 - De Leon 7, Mendoza 5, Vosotros 4, Exciminiano 2.
Ginebra 15 - De Vera 7, Villamor 4, Gozum 3, Cabahug 1.
