Meralco sent NorthPort packing, 21-13, to end Day 1 of the PBA 3×3 Second Conference Leg 5 perfectly, Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Tonino Gonzaga led the attack with 10 points as the Bolts wrapped the day up with a clean 3-0 slate to book a spot in the quarterfinals tomorrow.
Champions of the previous leg, the MVP Group-owned ball club began its back-to-back bid with a 21-19 escape of Platinum Karaoke, and then followed it up with another tight win against sister team CAVITEX, 18-16
Then came the conquest of the Batang Pier, where Maclean Sabellina drained the game-winning jumper that sent their foes winless in four games.
Meralco has the chance to lock the Pool A top seed with a victory against Pioneer Pro Tibay (2-1) at 3:15 p.m as Day 2 will start at 2:00.
Finishing the opening day unscathed as well are Limitless and Purefoods. The two finished with similar 2-0 records to lead Pools B and C, respectively.
The reigning grand champions started their campaign with a 21-12 victory over Sista behind the eight points of guard Reymar Caduyac.
They went on to add Master Sardines to their list of casualties by way of a 21-15 result, with Jorey Napoles leading the way this time with eight as well.
The Appmasters will take on the 0-2 Ginebra tomorrow at 3:40 p.m. in a bid to take the No. 1 spot. The match will take place a game after the crucial Super Sealers-Fishing Champs clash as both squads sport 1-1 cards.
On the other hand, the Tender Juicy Titans beat previous leg champions San Miguel and TNT to seize the leadership in their group.
They beat the Beermen first through a 21-15 result before handing the Tropang Giga a 21-15 defeat. Joseph Eriobu powered the crew with a total of 20 points, including 12 markers against the flagship MVP franchise.
Purefoods can improve to 3-0 — and secure the top spot of the pool — when it takes on the 1-1 Terrafirma at 2:25 p.m.
The Scores:
First game
Pioneer Pro Tibay 13 – Rivera 7, Rono 3, Abrigo 2, Ca. De Chavez 1.
Platinum Karaoke 11 – Andrada 5, Ch. De Chavez 3, Monteclaro 3, Banal 0.
Second game
CAVITEX 19 – Fajardo 11, Fonacier 3, Rivero 3, Reyes 2.
NorthPort 18 – Calisaan 12, Revilla 4, Webb 1, Olayon 1.
Third game
TNT 21 – Vosotros 10, Gozum 5, Javier 3, Flores 3.
Terrafirma 13 – Reverente 6, Taladua 3, Bulawan 2, Tumalip 2.
Fourth game
Master Sardines 21 – Hernandez 15, Mahari 3, Comia 2, Mabayo 1.
Ginebra 20 – Serrano 7, David 5, Go 4, Villamor 4.
Fifth game
Meralco 21 – Maiquez 8, Sedurifa 7, Gonzaga 5, Sabellina 1.
Platinum Karaoke 19 – Banal 8, Andrada 6, De Chavez 5, Monteclaro 0.
Sixth game
Pioneer Pro Tibay 21 – Abrigo 9, Rono 5, Rivera 4, De Chavez 3.
NorthPort 17 – Calisaan 6, Revilla 5, Webb 5, Olayon 1.
Seventh game
Purefoods TJ 21 – Eriobu 8, Bonsubre 5, Mendoza 4, Acuna 4.
SMB 16 – Manday 9, Rogado 4, Bono 2, Vigil 1.
Eighth game
Sista 21 – Mocon 7, Gabawan 5, Jamon 5, Manlangit 4.
Ginebra 17 – Go 6, Serrano 5, David 4, Villamor 2.
Ninth game
Platinum Karaoke 21 – Banal 10, De Chavez 7, Monteclaro 4, Andrada 0.
NorthPort 18 – Calisaan 5, Olayon 5, Revilla 5, Webb 3.
Tenth game
Meralco 18 – Gonzaga 12, Maiquez 3, Sedurifa 2, Sabellina 1.
CAVITEX 16 – Rivero 7, Fajardo 5, Reyes 3, Fonacier 1.
Eleventh game
Terrafirma 21 – Tumalip 9, Reverente 8, Taladua 3, Bulawan 1.
SMB 19 – Bono 8, Vigil 5, Manday 5, Rogado 1
Twelfth game
Limitless 21 – Caduyac 8, Rosser 5, Napoles 5, Hayes 3.
Sista 12 – Jamon 7, Manlangit 2, Mocon 2, Gabawan 1.
Thirteenth game
CAVITEX 21 – Rivero 7, Fonacier 6, Fajardo 5, Reyes 3.
Pioneer Pro Tibay 19 – Rono 8, Rivera 6, De Chavez 4, Abrigo 1.
Fourteenth game
Meralco 21 – Gonzaga 10, Sedurifa 5, Sabellina 4, Maiquez 2.
NorthPort 13 – Webb 5, Calisaan 4, Olayon 3, Revilla 1.
Fifteenth game
Purefoods TJ 21 – Eriobu 12, Bonsubre 4, Acuna 3, Mendoza 2.
TNT 15 – Vosotros 8, Flores 5, Javier 2, Gozum 0.
Sixteenth game
Limitless 21 – Napoles 8, Rosser 7, Caduyac 4, Hayes 2.
Master Sardines 15 – Mahari 8, Comia 3, Mabayo 2, Hernandez 2.
