MCFASolver secured a breakthrough title in the PBA 3×3 Second Conference with the help of Yutien Andrada’s clutch free throws, narrowly escaping Meralco with a 21-20 victory on Tuesday at Ayala Mall Manila Bay.
The veteran big man was fouled by Joseph Sedurifa in the final 33 seconds of the Leg 4 finals when Tech Centrale was trailing by a point and Meralco was already in the penalty. With ice in his veins, the 6-foot-8 Andrada had no problem draining the game-winning foul shots that finally placed the team on top of the podium.
The victory was worth P100,000 for coach Anton Altamirano and Tech Centrale, who had to overcome the defending champion TNT, defeating them 20-18 in the semifinals to reach the championship round.
(C) PBA Images
“Para sa akin walang pressure. Game winner, lakasan ng loob,” said Andrada of his game-winning baskets.
Louie Vigil led Tech Centrale with 12 points and set the tone for the match, which saw them take an early 3-0 lead and a 17-12 edge with 2:54 to go. However, behind Joseph Sedurifa, Meralco suddenly came alive with an 8-2 run to take the lead for the first time, 20-19, in the final 40 seconds.
MCFASolver, however, refused to be denied as Andrada stepped up and delivered, ironically, his only points of the game. The big man Brandon Ramirez contributed six points, and Terrence Tumalip added one for MCFASolver, whose other team finished as runners-up in the VPrime 3×3 International Cup in Ho Chi Minh City over the weekend.
Sedurifa and Jeff Manday each had eight points for Meralco, which received the runner-up purse worth P50,000. The Bolts narrowly edged Pioneer Elastoseal Katibays in an equally closely-fought semifinal, winning 15-14.
The Katibays later claimed P30,000 for finishing in third place after beating the Tropang Giga 21-14.
The Scores
Third Place
Pioneer (21) – Morido 10, Villamor 6, Mocon 3, Abrigo 2.
TNT (14) – Vosotros 6, De Leon 5, Exciminiano 3.
Finals
MCFASolver (21) – Vigil 12, Ramirez 6, Andrada 2, Tumalip 1.
Meralco (20) – Sedurifa 8, Manday 8, Caduyac 2, Cachuela 2.
