Rain or Shine and TNT moved closer to bagging spots to the semi-finals of the PBA-Tag Heuer 3-on-3 Women’s Basketball Tournament after picking separate wins Friday night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The Elasto Painters defeated Globalport, 13-8 to finish the elimination round with a 4-1 record in Group B.
Ara Abaca led the early charge for Rain or Shine, scoring three straight as the team went on a 6-1 lead. Jasmine Tiu-Malto broke the spell with a two for the Batang Pier, while Julie Pearl Gula scored back to back to pull the team within 10-8.
But Abaca scored two more while Nicole Garcia added another field goal as Rain or Shine closed out strong.
Globalport dropped to 1-2, bowing out of contention for the next round.
In the first game, Tropang TNT edged Meralco, 10-7 to likewise improve its chances of making it to the semi-finals. TNT improved to 3-1 in Group B, tied in second place with Blackwater. Only two teams per group will advance to the Last Four.
Sarah Mercado scored an and-one under the final minute to break a 7-all deadlock and give the Tropa a 9-7 lead. Karen Salapong added a basket even as the Bolts struggled to convert in the end.
TNT led by three earlier in the game, 7-4 before Kathy Binamira and Jaira Baarde combined for three straight points to knot the count.
However, that was when Mercado made the most important basket of the match.
With the loss, Meralco sank to 1-3 in Group B.
Photo courtesy of PBA Media Bureau
