TNT proved it remains the team to beat in the PBA 3x3, and Almond Vosotros still the most lethal player of the halfcourt game.
The Tropang Giga rallied from a late three-point deficit, and then leaned on a clutch Vosotros deuce to frustrate Cavitex Braves in overtime, 19-17, and claim the championship of the Second Conference Season 2 grand finals Saturday night, Dec. 17, at Robinson’s Town Hall in Malabon.
Big man Lervin Flores had seven points and seven rebounds, while Samboy De Leon added five as TNT won its second straight grand finals this season and bagged the top purse worth P750,000.
Vosotros, the undisputed scoring champion of the standalone tournament, was held to just three points, but delivered when it mattered most, hitting the game-winning basket after the Tropang Giga rallied from a 14-17 deficit to forge the extra period.
Ping Exciminiano added four points to close out the scoring for the telecommunication franchise coached by Mau Belen.
The Tropang Giga have now won the last three grand finals dating back from the Third Conference of Season 1.
It was a heartbreaking loss for the Braves, who were in control for most of the match, and led by three with 1:19 left in regulation after Bong Galanza hit a 2.
But Exciminiano and Flores scored the next three points for the Tropang Giga to send the game into overtime.
Cavitex settled for the runner up purse of P250,000.
Joseph Sedurifa exploded for 10 points on 5-of-11 shooting from the field to guide J&T 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 the Express, who grabbed the P100,000 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.
Jorey Napoles grabbed eight rebounds and scored six points in Cavitex’s 16-10 win over J&T, while Vosotros fired nine points to lead TNT past Platinum Karaoke, 18-13.
It was a semifinals party for the conference’s top four seeded teams after disposing their respective quarterfinal opponents.
The no. 1 seeded Braves got nine points and eight rebounds from Napoles to edge a tough stand by the Bolts, 21-20, while the second seed Tropang Giga followed suit with a 20-16 win over Barangay Ginebra.
Meanwhile, No. 3 Platinum Karaoke survived Pioneer Elastoseal, 14-13, and fourth seed Express defeated Blackwater, 18-11.
Earlier, Blackwater, Meralco, Pioneer Elastoseal, and Barangay Ginebra clinched the last four seats in the quarterfinals after emerging as the top four teams at the end of the six-game pool play.
San Miguel and Terrafirma tumbled out of the running as it ended with similar 0-2 records.
The scores:
Third place
J&T (20) – Sedurifa 10, Datu 6, Rono 2, Hayes 2.
Platinum Karaoke (14) – Bates 7, Salva 4, Tumalip 3, Andrada 0.
Finals
TNT (19) – Flores 7, De Leon 5, Exciminiano 4, Vosotros 3.
Cavitex (17) – Napoles 8, Galanza 4, Fajardo 3, Saldua 2.