Teams look to perform well in hopes of boosting their chances in the Grand Finals as the PBA 3x3’s inaugural conference enters its penultimate leg which starts Saturday, Dec. 11 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Fourth leg champion Purefoods takes on NorthPort to begin another 16-game bill at 8 a.m., an earlier start time for the PBA’s halfcourt version due to the Governors’ Cup doubleheader slated in the afternoon.
The TJ Titans will be in Pool A together with the Batang Pier, Limitless Appmasters, Pioneer Pro Tibay and the Zamboanga Valientes.
After settling for runner-up honors, overall leader Meralco Bolts are going to start in Pool B together with Terrafirma 3x3, CAVITEX Braves and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
Pool C has third placer TNT Tropang Giga, Platinum Karaoke, San Miguel Beermen and Sista Super Sealers.
Ten teams will enter the Grand Finals on Dec. 29, which is why it is important for those at the bottom to perform well in the final two stagings.
Meralco is ahead through four legs with 310 tour points compiled mostly from its second leg victory and two second place finishes with first leg winner TNT in second (260) and Purefoods in third (250).
Platinum carries fourth spot at 245 tour points followed by Terrafirma (215), third leg champion Sista (182), Pioneer (178), Limiltess (161), CAVITEX (112) while San Miguel (111) is running 10th.
Outside of the top 10 are Ginebra (102), NorthPort (64) and Zamboanga (50).
Joseph Eriobu is expected to lead Purefoods’ bid for another leg victory with Pao Javelona, Jed Mendoza and Jun Bonsubre looking to do well anew.
Eriobu posted 178 points in the fourth legs to emerge as one of the top scorers of the halfcourt tourney.