TNT capped an amazing PBA 3×3 Second Conference campaign by topping the grand finals for a record sixth straight time on Monday night at the Ayala Malls Trinoma.
Almond Vosotros was again the man of the hour for the Triple Giga, nailing the game-winning deuce in a 21-20 overtime thriller against the hard-fighting Meralco Bolts to extend their dominance in the three-a-side game.
The 33-year-old Vosotros topscored with nine points and delivered just in time to thwart what had been the most serious threat to TNT’s championship reign.
The Bolts twice came close to upending the defending champions, but couldn’t deliver when it mattered most as Jeff Manday, Raymar Caduyac, and Alfred Batino all missed out on potential game-winning baskets both in regulation and in overtime.
“Tiwala lang kami sa isa’t isa, na hanggang hindi nakaka-shoot ‘yung kalaban, babalik sa amin ang bola at may tsansa kaming manalo pa,” said Ping Exciminiano of the win worth P750,000.
Gryann Mendoza finished with six points and Exciminiano and Chester Saldua combined for another six points for the Triple Giga of coach Mau Belen.
It was the sixth straight conference championship for the telecommunication franchise dating back to the Third Conference of Season 1, and moved the team on the cusp of repeating its grand slam feat from last season.
Likewise, it was the perfect finishing touch to a dominant drive that saw the Triple Giga win five of the six legs at stake.
The Bolts copped the P250,000 runner up purse, with Manday leading the charge with seven points and Caduyac adding six.
The top two seeded teams arranged the title match by closing out their respective semifinal opponents. TNT plastered Pioneer Elastoseal, 21-13, while the Bolts hammered out a 22-16 win over Cavitex Braves.
In the battle for third and the P100,000 prize money, the Elastoseal edged out the Braves, 16-15.
Meanwhile, a new scoring king was hailed at the end of the conference in big man Brandon Ramirez of guest team MCFASolver. He beat out Manday for the individual plum by finishing with 229 points to receive P30,000.
The scores:
Third place
Pioneer Elastoseal (16) – Villamor 8, Morido 5, Baltazar 2, Mocon 1.
Cavitex (15) – Gonzaga 5, Galanza 4, Napoles 3, Ighalo 3.
Finals
TNT (21) – Vosotros 9, Mendoza 6, Saldua 4, Exciminiano 2.
