Ginebra escaped Sista, 21-20, to punch its ticket to the PBA 3×3 Second Conference quarterfinals, Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Dennice Villamor sank the finishing corner deuce off Encho Serrano’s swing with 1:03 left to play, saving his side after losing hold of a 19-17 lead.
VIllamor finished with four points as the Gin Kings remained perfect at 3-0 to stay on top of Pool A — easily their best start ever in the new league.
Jollo Go top-scored with eight points. Go had five, while Jayson David had four for the Barangay, who can end Day 1 unscathed versus Terrafirma later.
Leo De Vera led the Super Sealers with six points.
The halfcourt veteran was the one who tied the game with a two-pointer and then found JJ Manlangit for the go-ahead bucket with 1:24 left.
However, he committed a costly error on defense. De Vera helped double Serrano, which allowed Villamor to get open and nail the winner.
Sista dropped to 1-1 but can bounce back later versus Platinum.
Meanwhile, Limitless App started off its title defense bid on a rousing note by way of a dominant 21-8 conquest of NorthPort.
Reymar Caduyac had nine points to lead the Appmasters, who raced to an 8-0 start into the game and never looked back since.
Jorey Napoles supplied seven points, while Brandon Rosser and Marvin Hayes combined for five as they sent the Batang Pier crashing back to earth.
NorthPort earlier shocked Purefoods, 20-16, in the Pool C opener.
Ken Bono is proving that he’s a force to be reckoned with as he powered San Miguel to a 21-16 decision over Pioneer in Pool B.
The veteran big man finished with 14 points, including the game-winning stab from the post as the Beermen earned their first win.
Bono, 37, also had 14 markers in their 19-20 loss to TNT earlier.
Rono led the ProTibay with six points. Carlo Escalambre added four.
Terrafirma also earned their first win of Leg 1 by adding to the debuting Master Sardines’ miseries with a 19-17 come-from-behind victory.
Jebb Bulawan had seven points in the win that hiked their card to 1-1.
The Fishing Champs, on the other hand, dropped to 0-3 in Pool A.
The Scores:
Ninth game
San Miguel 21 – Bono 14, Vigil 4, Manday 3, Mangahas 0.
Pioneer Pro Tibay 16 – Rono 6, Escalambre 4, Reducto 3, Abrigo 3.
Tenth game
Ginebra 21 – Go 8, Serrano 5, David 4, Villamor 4.
Sista 20 – De Vera 6, Jamon 6, Mocon 6, Manlangit 2.
Eleventh game
Limitless 21 – Caduyac 9, Napoles 7, Rosser 3, Hayes 2.
NorthPort 8 – Revilla 4, Webb 4, Olayon 0, Calisaan 0.
Twelfth game
Terrafirma 19 – Bulawan 7, Tumalip 6, Reverente 4, Taladua 2.
Master Sardines 17 – Hernandez 10, Mabayo 3, Sorela 2, Tabi 2.