NLEX leaned on its free throws in crunchtime to beat Rain or Shine, 15-10 in Game 1 of the best-of-three PBA-Tag Heuer 3-on-3 women’s basketball tournament finals on Thursday night at the PhilSports Arena.
Analyn Almazan sank two charities under the final 20 seconds while Fria Bernardo also made a foul shot which ended the match in favor of the Road Warriors.
Ara Abaca broke a 2-2 deadlock early with lay-up, but Kath Sandel converted on an and-one play to push NLEX ahead, 5-3. Sandel scored two more baskets after to make it 7-5 as NLEX threatened to put the game away.
But Abaca made back to back baskets as well, with the second one being an and-one play to knot the count at 8 apiece.
Almazan and Kathy Garcia traded charities after as the score remained deadlocked at 10-all, before Sandel scored a foul shot and a basket lff the glass to give NLEX the 12-10 advantage under the final 20.7 seconds.
In the third place battle, Barangay Ginebra got a spark from the hot hands of MJ Galicia to defeat Tropang TNT, 12-6 and take this conference’s third place.
Galicia hit a long range shot and followed it with two more baskets as Ginebra raced to a 7-1 lead.
Sarah Mercado and Karen Salapong each scored for TNT to make it 7-3, but Banjo Soriano scored three more points afterwards as Ginebra pulled away, 12-4.
)
