Limitless has moved just one game away from completing its repeat bid after owning rivals TNT yet again, 20-19, in the PBA 3×3 Second Conference Leg 4 semifinals, Sunday evening at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Jorey Napoles led the Appmasters with nine points, helping his side keep their mastery of the Tropang Giga similar to what he did in the Leg 3 final last week that saw him drop 14 points in the come-from-behind victory.
Reymar Caduyac scored seven, while Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser added four as the reigning grand champs are looking for their fourth leg title overall.
TNT was led by the 13 points of Almond Vosotros, who tried to will his side back in the match with a deuce in the last seconds but time wasn’t enough.
Set to give Limitless a run for its money, however, is Meralco, who showed San Miguel the door by way of a 21-15 decision.
Tonino Gonzaga powered the Bolts with 13 points, including the pull-up jumper off an Alfred Batino screen with 3:36 left to win it.
Batino himself contributed four points, while Joseph Sedurifa and Dexter Maiquez combined for four markers in the victory.
Meanwhile, Jeff Manday led San Miguel with seven markers that dashed hopes of replicating their championship success in the second leg.
The upcoming title bout will be another playoff clash between Limitless and Meralco, with the Bolts surely with an axe to grind following that 11-16 defeat the Appmasters dealt them in the semis of the last leg.
And besides the opportunity to end their foes’ heater run, the MVP Group-owned ball club has the shot of winning its first title this conference after a runner-up and a third-place finish in Legs 1 and 3, respectively.
Prior to the championship battle, though, TNT and San Miguel will figure in a battle for third place, with Php 30,000 going to the winner.
The Scores:
Semis first game
Limitless 20 – Napoles 9, Caduyac 7, Rosser 4, Hayes 0.
TNT 19 – Vosotros 13, Flores 4, Gozum 1, Acuno 1.
Semis second game
Meralco 21 – Gonzaga 13, Batino 4, Sedurifa 3, Maiquez 1.
San Miguel 15 – Manday 7, Bono 4, Mangahas 2, Vigil 2.
