TNT weathered Ginebra’s late-game flurry, 19-17, to banner the semis picture of the PBA 3×3 Season 3 Second Conference Grand Finals, Monday at the Ayala Malls Glorietta Activity Center in Makati.
Almond Vosotros gave the Triple Giga the needed separation through a split from the foul line with 6.2 seconds left, before an overcooked deuce attempt by JJ Espanola from the right corner as time expired sealed the victory.
Vosotros and Gryann Mendoza both top-scored for the squad with six apiece. Chester Saldua supplied five, while Ping Exciminiano added two.
It was the 6-foot-5 Saldua who helped keep the opposition at bay following back-to-back hits to give themselves a 16-11 lead with 1:25 left.
The Kings, though, channeled its own NSD spirit by knocking to within a point twice, the last one being 18-17 behind Ralph Salcedo with 9.2 seconds left.
But Vosotros and Co. refused to be on the wrong end of a massive upset on their way to keeping their golden streak very much alive.
Salcedo had eight points to lead Ginebra, who entered the quarterfinals after finishing second in Pool B in group play earlier in the day.
Looking to win their sixth straight grand championship, the Tropang Giga will be facing Pioneer Elastoseal in the knockout semis later in the evening.
One of the seeded teams in the Grand Finals at fourth, the Katibays eliminated San Miguel, 21-16, behind Dennice Villamor’s 13 points.
Pioneer will be coming into the penultimate phase hoping to reach the finale and replicate its unlikely run to the top of Season 1 Second Conference.
Set to duke it out in the other semis bracket are MVP Group teams Meralco and CAVITEX as they dominated their respective assignments.
The Bolts quickly disposed of Purefoods Tender Juicy, 21-10, behind the 12 points of Jeff Manday. The Braves, meanwhile, took down Blackwater by way of a 22-11 victory, spearheaded by the 10 points of Bong Galanza.
QF2
San Miguel (21) – Bono 8, Belencion 3, Lee 3, Apacible 2.
Pioneer (16) – Villamor 13, Morido 7, Mocon 1, Baltazar 0.
QF1
TNT (19) – Mendoza 6, Vosotros 6, Saldua 5, Exciminiano 2.
Ginebra (17) – Salcedo 8, Ubalde 4, Espanola 4, Abuda 1.
QF4
Meralco (21) – Manday 12, Batino 5, Sedurifa 3, Caduyac 1.
Purefoods (10) – Bunag 5, Rivera 4, Peralta 1, Gozum 0.
QF3
CAVITEX (22) – Galanza 10, Ighalo 6, Napoles 4, Gonzaga 2.
Blackwater (11) – Comboy 9, Bayla 2, Deles 0, Publico 0.
