This time, it was Ralph Cu’s turn to be the hero for Ginebra.
The UAAP Season 85 3×3 silver medalist from La Salle nailed the game-winning deuce against Meralco in overtime, 19-17. The Kings won a second straight leg title in the PBA 3×3 Season 3 First Conference on Tuesday at the Ayala Mall Circuit.
The victory, worth P100,000, was reminiscent of the team’s dramatic overtime win over San Miguel in last week’s opening leg, with Donald Gumaru scoring the dagger basket against the Beermen.
Ironically, Gumaru was responsible for sending the finals against the Bolts into the extra period when he made a driving layup that barely beat the buzzer, making it 17-17.
Kim Aurin led the Kings with eight points, while Cu added six to help Ginebra win back-to-back leg championships for the first time.
(C) PBA Images
Ralph Salcedo and Donald Gumaru finished with three and two points, respectively, rounding out the scoring for the Kings.
The loss was a disappointing one for the Bolts, who were in control for the most part and led 10-7 halfway through the title game.
Alfred Batino, who finished with a team-high six points, gave Meralco its last taste of the lead, 17-16, with 17 seconds to play before Gumaru answered back with the tying basket.
The Bolts pocketed the P50,000 runner-up purse.
On the way to the finals, Meralco defeated Cavitex, 21-18, while Ginebra won over Blackwater, 22-17.
Cavitex notched a second straight third-place finish this conference with a 19-15 win over Blackwater.
Tonino Gonzaga finished with seven points and five rebounds for the Braves, who secured another P30,000 prize money after a similar podium finish in last week’s opening leg.
Results of the quarterfinals earlier saw Meralco edge out Wilcon Depot in a low-scoring match (14-13), while Ginebra ousted Purefoods (17-13). Meanwhile, Cavitex defeated San Miguel (19-17), and Blackwater whipped Pioneer Elastoseal (22-13).
The Scores
Third Place
Cavitex (19) – Gonzaga 7, Ighalo 5, Napoles 4, Fajardo 3.
Blackwater (15) – Publico 8, Salva 3, Bayla 2, Jamison 2.
Finals
Ginebra (19) – Aurin 8, Cu 6, Salcedo 3, Gumaru 2.
Meralco (17) – Batino 6, Sedurifa 5, Manday 4, Santos 2.
