IN A decisive victory at Ayala Malls Glorietta on Monday, Blackwater seized the opportunity created by TNT’s manpower issues, clinching the leading position in Pool A as they head into the quarterfinals of Leg 1 PBA 3×3 Season 3 Third Conference.

The Smooth Razor dominated Terrafirma with a score of 20-13, and fueled by Wendell Comboy’s impressive 17-point performance, they went on to rout the depleted Triple Giga with a final score of 22-7.

Despite the absence of Almond Vosotros and Ping Exciminiano due to illness, Gryann Mendoza, Matt Salem, and Chester Saldua showcased resilience for TNT, securing the second spot in Pool A with a 1-1 record. They advanced by capitalizing on their morning victory against Dyip (21-19) to claim the second and final ticket to Tuesday’s knockout rounds.

In other pools, Cavitex secured the third seed with a perfect 3-0 sweep in Pool C, while MCFASolver went 2-of-2 in Pool B, leading the quarterfinalists from their respective brackets.

Pool C’s top-seeded Braves swept aside San Miguel Beer (21-11), Barangay Ginebra (21-13), and Pioneer Elastoseal (21-17), claiming the top spot. Meanwhile, Gin Kings (1-1) and Katibays (1-1) also progressed, setting the stage for a duel to dispute the No. 2 spot at the end of pool play on Tuesday.

In Pool B, unbeaten MCFASolver (2-0), Meralco (2-1), and Purefoods (1-1) secured the three-quarters spots, while NorthPort (0-3) faced elimination.

As Tech Centrale and the Titans conclude pool play on Tuesday, anticipation rises for the competition to heat up later in the day as teams vie for Leg 1 honors and the coveted P100,000 winner’s prize.