San Miguel will look to extend its success as Leg 3 of the PBA 3×3 Second Conference gets going this March 12 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Beermen finally copped their first-ever title last Sunday by way of a 21-15 conquest of Barangay Ginebra in an all-SMC final, and are definitely gunning for another now that they’ve known what it takes to rule a stop.
That championship run also elevated SMB tour points to 145 in the league’s tour rankings, sharing the second spot with Leg 1 champs TNT.
But as usual, the club’s repeat bid wouldn’t be a walk in the park. The quartet of Jeff Manday, Ken Bono, Bacon Austria, and Mon Rogado will be put to the test right away as they will battle Platinum Karaoke at the 8 a.m. opener.
Ranked seventh with only 90 tour points, Platinum is surely going in with so much hunger after bowing out of the quarterfinals in the last two legs.
San Miguel and Platinum lead the five-team Pool A. The group also has TNT, Terrafirma (30), and the still-winless Master Sardines (26).
The Gin Kings, on the other hand, banner the cast of Pool B that also features rivals Meralco (130), Purefoods (70), and CAVITEX (36).
Sitting atop the tour rankings with 150 points thanks to its podium finishes in the previous two legs, the Barangay will commence the pool’s action with a tussle against the Tender Juicy Titans at 8:50 a.m.
Pool C, ultimately, is headed by reigning grand champions Limitless App, together with Pioneer (72), Sista (58), and NorthPort (38).
Owner of 130 tour points and potentially the team that will represent Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 in the 31st Southeast Asian Games, the Appmasters will start the group’s hostilities opposite the ProTibay at 9:15 a.m.
Pioneer is heading into the third leg with so much to prove after its dominant 5-0 start in the last stop went for naught as it bowed to SMB in the semis.
