TNT Tropang Giga made history as the first team to achieve a grand slam in PBA 3×3.
Led by big man Lervin Flores, the Tropang Giga overcame a hard-fighting San Miguel Beermen squad, 21-18, in the final of the Third Conference on Sunday at Robinsons Place in Las Pinas.
Flores was a dominant force throughout the game, scoring 11 points, grabbing five rebounds, and shooting 7-of-9 from the field. The league’s undisputed scoring king, Almond Vosotros, had a quiet game with just seven points, but Ping Exciminiano and Samboy De Leon provided enough support to help TNT achieve the special feat in the young history of the two-year-old standalone league.
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Coach Mau Belen and her team won their fourth straight conference title, dating back to the Third Conference of Season 1. The victory was worth P750,000, while the Beermen took home the runner-up purse of P250,000.
Earlier in the day, Barangay Ginebra took third place and the P100,000 prize money behind a 21-18 win over J&T. It was the second third-place finish for the Kings in a season grand final, following their achievement during the second conference of Season 1.
Despite being the no. 8 seeded team, the Beermen climbed their way up the pool ladder, initially gaining a seat in the knockout stage by finishing second behind J&T in Pool B during the early morning games.
In the quarterfinals, Ken Bono powered his way with nine points to lead San Miguel to a 21-19 upset of no. 2 Cavitex before Tonino Gonzaga and Wendell Comboy took over in the semis, combining for 17 points in a 20-18 victory over the Express.
Meanwhile, TNT sneaked its way to the finals by disposing of 10th seed Purefoods, 21-15, in the quarterfinals, and turning back the stiff challenge of no. 4 team Barangay Ginebra, 21-16, to clinch the first finals berth.
The Scores
Third place
Ginebra (21) – Aurin 7, Cu 5, Gumaru 5, Salcedo 4.
J&T (18) – Sedurifa 10, Datu 6, Rono 2, Hayes 0.
Finals
TNT (21) – Flores 11, Vosotros 7, Exciminiano 3, De Leon 0.
San Miguel (18) – Comboy 7, Bono 7, Gonzaga 3, De Vera 1.
