Pioneer Pro Tibay ousted Limitless App from its reign by way of a 16-14 overtime stunner to banner the semis cast of the PBA 3×3 Second Conference Grand Finals, Wednesday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Gian Abrigo drilled the cold-blooded two-pointer from the right-wing in the extra period, completing the Pro Tibay’s comeback in a solid display of heart as the guest team fed off the partisan crowd that trooped to the venue.
Abrigo top-scored for the winning side with seven points as history repeated itself following their shocking conquest of the perennial contenders.
It marked the second time in a row that a top seed got booted out this early in the Last Dance, or since Terrafirma — a team buoyed by the absence of Roider Cabrera — eliminated Meralco in the First Conference’s grand finale.
Robin Rono had four points, Christian Rivera made three, as Carlo Escalambre chipped in two markers for the team coached by Lester Del Rosario.
Meanwhile, Reymar Caduyac and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser finished with five points apiece to lead Limitless in the deflating defeat.
The Appmasters, set to represent Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi next month, were one of the three seeded teams which got shown the door in a playoff round marred by reversals.
Replicating Pioneer, Ginebra eliminated the no. 4 San Miguel Beer, 21-12, to exact vengeance for that heartbreaker in the Leg 2 final. Encho Serrano led the way with nine points, while Jayson David added seven.
The Barangay and the Pro Tibay are set for a collision course in the semis.
Sista then continued its stellar campaign in the Grand Finals, beating the Bolts narrowly, 16-15, to remain perfect in the tilt — the Super Sealers swept Pool A last Wednesday with wins over Pioneer and Purefoods.
Jan Jamon, the one who towed his side to that sweep through game-winners, shone brightly once again with eight points. Kenneth Mocon added six.
TNT, ultimately, made sure that it won’t suffer the same fate as its fellow seeded squads as it escaped the ever-gutsy Terrafirma, 18-17, behind a go-ahead bucket by Samboy De Leon in the dying seconds.
Led by the nine points of top gunner Almond Vosotros, the Tropang Giga will face Sista in the penultimate round.
The Scores:
QF1
Pioneer 16 – Abrigo 7, Rono 4, Rivera 3, Escalambre 2
Limitless 14 – Caduyac 5, Rosser 5, Napoles 3, Hayes 1
QF2
Ginebra 21 – Serrano 9, David 7, Villamor 5, Go 0.
San Miguel 12 – Bono 7, Vigil 2, Austria 2, Rogado 1.
QF3
Sista 16 – Jamon 8, Mocon 6, Manlangit 2, Gabawan 0
Meralco 15 – Batino 7, Sedurifa 3, Gonzaga 3, Maiquez 2.
QF4
TNT 18 – Vosotros 9, De Leon 5, Javier 3, Acuno 1.
Terrafirma 17 – Taladua 6, Reverente 5, Tumalip 4, Tubid 2.
