NLEX and Globalport both came up with close wins Friday night in the PBA-Tag Heuer women’s 3-on-3 basketball tournament at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The Road Warriors spoiled Mahindra’s debut in Group A, 12-10, to win their second straight game in the tournament.
The Enforcers got off to a solid start, taking a 7-3 lead as Jinky Balasta hit a two, while Cindy Resultay converted on an and-one play.
Kath Sandel and Fria Bernardo then combined to lift NLEX ahead, 8-7. A free throw by Balasta tied the count at 8 apiece, before Sandel delivered back-to-back baskets to push NLEX up, 10-8.
Balasta hit another two with 22.8 seconds left to tie the game, but Sandel answered right away even as a Mahindra turnover led to an Analyn Almazan basket which put the game away, 12-10.
Globalport, meanwhile, finally got into the win column with a down-the-wire 13-12 victory over San Miguel.
Jasmine Tiu-Malto scored two straight baskets to hand the Batang Pier a 6-4 lead early on, before Denyse Jimenez rallied San Miguel back in the game.
Vanessa Santos then hit a crucial two to make it 10-8 for Globalport. Julie Gula and Ayra Hufanda exchanged baskets after, with Gula’s jumper in the final 6.4 seconds proving to be the dagger as the Batang Pier prevailed.
Globalport improved to 1-1 in Group B, handing San Miguel a loss in the latter’s opener.
