Almond Vosotros came through with yet another heroic act as TNT outlasted CAVITEX in overtime, 19-17, to clinch the PBA 3×3 Season 2 Second Conference championship, Saturday night at the Robinsons Town Mall Malabon.
The gunslinging guard nailed a bailout deuce from the left corner with the shot clock winding down, successfully completing the Tropang Giga’s gritty fightback from a 14-17 deficit with 1:20 remaining in regulation.
Vosotros finished with three points, two rebounds, two assists, and a steal as his clutch outing enabled the competition’s winningest ball club to win its fourth grand title in a row — a streak that began in Season 1’s Third Conference.
“Honestly, this is team effort,” said Vosotros. “Si Ping di nag-give up, si Lervin, si Samboy. And ‘yung last shot ko, talagang para sa buong team ‘yon.”
Lervin Flores top-scored for TNT with seven points and seven rebounds, together with a game-high four blocks and one steal.
Samboy de Leon supplied five points as he fought through an injured left leg to make sure that the Tropa won’t be a man down late in the important affair.
Ping Exciminiano chimed in four markers, seven boards, and four assists — the last of which led to Vosotros’ wild game-winner.
“Thank God we stayed together,” said a proud head coach Mau Belen. “Hopefully, next conference, nandito pa rin kami lahat.”
The loss was shattering for the Braves, who were in control for most of the match, and led by three after Bong Galanza’s four straight points.
But Exciminiano and Flores joined hands, scoring the next three points for the Tropang Giga to send the game into an extra period.
(C) PBA Images
Jorey Napoles finished with a game-high eight points to lead CAVITEX, who settled for the Php 250,000 purse. Galanza scored four, while Dominick Fajardo and Chester Saldua added three and two markers, respectively.
Meanwhile, Joseph Sedurifa exploded for 10 points to guide J&T Express to a 20-14 beating of Platinum Karaoke in the battle for third place.
It was the first podium finish in a grand finals for guest team Express, who grabbed the Php 100,000 prize money.
The Braves and Tropang Giga set up the grand finale duel by putting J&T Express and Platinum Karaoke out of their way.
It was a semifinals party for the conference’s top four seeded teams after disposing their respective quarterfinal opponents.
The scores:
Finals
TNT (19) – Flores 7, De Leon 5, Exciminiano 4, Vosotros 3.
CAVITEX (17) – Napoles 8, Galanza 4, Fajardo 3, Saldua 2.
Third-Place Game
J&T Express (20) – Sedurifa 10, Datu 6, Rono 2, Hayes 2.
Platinum Karaoke (14) – Bates 7, Salva 4, Tumalip 3, Andrada 0
