Timeout

TNT CLAIMS PBA 3X3 SECOND CONFERENCE SEASON 2 CROWN

ALMOND Vosotros lived up to his billing as the most lethal player of the halfcourt game even as TNT proved once more to oddsmakers as the team to beat in the PBA 3x3.

17 December 2022

ALMOND Vosotros lived up to his billing as the most lethal player of the halfcourt game even as TNT proved once more to oddsmakers as the team to beat in the PBA 3×3.

With Vosotros leading the assault, the Tropang Giga stormed back from a late three-point deficit en route to overcoming Cavitex Braves in overtime, 19-17, and claiming the Second Conference Season 2 grand finals crown Saturday night at Robinson’s Town Hall in Malabon.

TNT also got big points from big man Lervin Flores who finished with seven points and seven rebounds even as Samboy De Leon added five that all but allowed TNT to walk away with its second straight grand finals diadem this season and bagged the top purse worth P750,000.

Vosotros, the undisputed scoring champion of the standalone tournament, only had three points spiked with the most important basket that powered Tropang Giga to overtime at 17-all as they rallied from a 14-17 deficit to forge the extra period.

Ping Exciminiano added four points to close out the scoring for the telecommunication franchise coached by Mau Belen.

The Tropang Giga has now won the last three grand finals dating back from the Third Conference of Season 1.

It was a heartbreaking loss for the Braves, who were in control for most of the match, and led by three with 1:19 left in regulation after Bong Galanza hit a 2.

But Exciminiano and Flores scored the next three points for the Tropang Giga to send the game into overtime.

Cavitex settled for the runner-up purse of P250,000.

Joseph Sedurifa exploded for 10 points on a 5-of-11 shooting from the field to guide J&T to a 20-14 beating of Platinum Karaoke in the battle for third place.

It was the first podium finish in a grand final for the Express, who grabbed the P100,000 prize money,

The Braves and Tropang Giga set up the grand finale duel by putting J&T Express and Platinum Karaoke out of their way.

Jorey Napoles grabbed eight rebounds and scored six points in Cavitex’s 16-10 win over J&T, while Vosotros fired nine points to lead TNT past Platinum Karaoke, 18-13.

After disposing of their respective quarterfinal opponents, it was a semifinal party for the conference’s top four-seeded teams.
The no. 1 seeded Braves got nine points and eight rebounds from Napoles to edge a tough stand by the Bolts, 21-20, while the second seed Tropang Giga followed suit with a 20-16 win over Barangay Ginebra.

Meanwhile, no. 3 Platinum Karaoke survived Pioneer Elastoseal, 14-13, and fourth seed Express defeated Blackwater, 18-11.

Earlier, Blackwater, Meralco, Pioneer Elastoseal, and Barangay Ginebra clinched the last four seats in the quarterfinals after emerging as the top four teams at the end of the six-game pool play.

San Miguel and Terrafirma tumbled out of the running as it ended with similar 0-2 records.

The scores

Third place

J&T (20) – Sedurifa 10, Datu 6, Rono 2, Hayes 2.
Platinum Karaoke (14) – Bates 7, Salva 4, Tumalip 3, Andrada 0.

Finals

TNT (19) – Flores 7, De Leon 5, Exciminiano 4, Vosotros 3.
Cavitex (17) – Napoles 8, Galanza 4, Fajardo 3, Saldua 2.