Sterling individual performances added more flair to the PBA 3×3 inaugurals’ opening festivities, Saturday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
While the emerging discipline encourages maximizing team play for higher chances of achieving success, the game is and will always be about putting the ball through the hoop. And that’s what some of the players proved.
From more established names to even unheralded ones, here are the top-scoring performers in Day One of the first leg.
CHRIS DE CHAVEZ, Platinum Karaoke
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The 32-year-old had said previously that he and Platinum Karaoke are embracing the challenge that comes with being tagged as the favorites.
Many look at them as a team to beat in the new league, owing to their rich experience in the halfcourt game. And their pedigree was in full display as they opened their campaign with a 21-7 drubbing of Zamboanga.
On the forefront of that attack was De Chavez himself. He fired 13 points to become the league’s first double-digit scorer.
A veteran both in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 and in the FIBA 3×3 pro circuit in the last few years, the 6-foot-6 winger also played a key role in Platinum’s wins later in the day that put them atop Pool A with a 3-0 card.
The Fil-Am cager scored seven points in their 21-16 victory over Limitless App, including the game-winning deuce to emerge triumphant in the tight contest. He then made six against Val Acuna and Purefoods, 21-14.
Platinum, more importantly, is headed to the knockout quarterfinals on Sunday, together with TNT and the Tender Juicy Titans.
ALMOND VOSOTROS, TNT
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The 5-foot-10 playmaker out of La Salle put his gunslinging ways in full display to lead TNT’s 21-9 decimation of the App Masters to start their day.
Vosotros finished with 12 points. He set the tone for the Tropang Giga towards an impressive Day One that saw them win thrice in as many games also.
The 31-year-old then contributed six points in their 21-14 win over Purefoods, who entered the match with a two-game winning streak.
Formerly a Gilas Pilipinas pool member, Vosotros chipped in four markers in a 21-18 escape of the Valientes in a match that saw Samboy De Leon lead the way, seemingly inspired by his teammate. But that’s another story.
JED MENDOZA, Purefoods
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The 5-foot-10 guard is among those unheralded players looking to introduce themselves through the PBA 3×3, and that’s precisely what he did.
After scoring just three points in their first game versus Limitless, the last player picked in last March’s draft — 61st overall, if you wonder — produced 10 points to lead Purefoods’ 21-7 mauling of Zamboanga.
Yes, he stood the tallest in a team that had veteran gunner Val Acuña and seasoned players Joseph Eriobu and Pao Javelona.
The product of JRU and UE though, wasn’t able to keep his solid play as he scored just a total of three points in their final two games.
Stiil, the NBL-Pilipinas standout’s performance is what practically helped the Tender Juicy Titans book a quarterfinal berth.
JEFF MANDAY, San Miguel
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His name may not a ring a bell for some, but the lanky Negrense guard turned in a performance so thrilling for San Miguel.
The only rookie from the last draft to be signed by the Beermen, Manday sizzled for 13 points to power SMB past CAVITEX, 21-17.
He was playing with so much confidence, drilling stepback triples with ease while also showing his slashing prowess.
Such an outing was bound to happen, somehow, as he scored six markers in SMB’s 21-17 conquest of NorthPort earlier in the day.
The Beermen are sitting on top of Pool C with a 2-0 card, and will plan to formalize their quarterfinal entry tomorrow versus Pioneer Pro Tibay.
SAMBOY DE LEON, TNT
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The 6-foot-3 shooter out of CEU saved his best for last as he saved TNT from the jaws of defeat against Zamboanga, 21-18, in the final game of Day One.
As the Valientes rallied from a wide deficit behind Mac Cardona, De Leon buried a stepback three from near the top of the key to end it — and to splendidly cap off a solid performance as he finished with 10 points.
The former D-League veteran played his best game of the leg after scoring five points in both of their wins versus Limitless and Purefoods earlier.
TNT will battle Platinum tomorrow to determine the top seed of Pool A and it is intriguing, to say the least, if De Leon will be able to replicate such an outing or another one from the Tropang Giga would deliver.
MAC CARDONA, Zamboanga
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Sure, it was a totally forgettable run for Zamboanga. But ‘Captain Hook’ was the lone bright spot for a crew who went winless in four games.
The 40-year-old was the one who carried the fight for the Valientes all day long, including a 10-point performance in the loss to TNT.
That’s after he scored nine points versus Limitless, where they had a real shot of scoring their first win. However, the App Masters proved to be the better team in the endgame behind the presence of Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser.
Cardona was the top scorer of Zamboanga in all of their games. He scored six of their seven points in their 21-7 opening loss in the hands of Platinum, and made half of his team’s output in their 21-8 defeat to Purefoods.
Now, it would be interesting to see how Cardona and the Valientes will pick themselves up entering the second leg next week.
