New team Master Sardines finally secured its first-ever quarterfinals berth despite dropping its final pool play match in Leg 4 of the PBA 3x3 second conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Fishing Champs lost 21-14 to the San Miguel Beermen but got help from the third leg champion Limitless Appmasters, who posted a 21-15 victory over the Cavitex Braves.
Master Sardines, composed of Levi Hernandez, Cyrus Tabi, John Mahari and Mon Mabayo placed third in Pool A with a 2-2 record after going winless in the first two legs and posting a 1-3 record in Leg 3.
Hernandez, Tabi, Mahari and Mabayo prevailed 21-10 over NorthPort and 21-16 against Cavitex while its other loss came against Limitless with a 21-12 decision.
Master will face Pool B second placer TNT in the quarterfinals.
Limitless topped Pool A by winning all four games while SMB finished second at 3-1.
Platinum Karaoke secured top spot in Pool B despite a 22-12 loss to Sista put them in a tie with TNT at 2-1.
TNT became Pool B runner-up after Martin Gozum’s two-pointer beat Pioneer, 21-20.
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Meralco finished tied atop Pool C at 2-1 but the former took the tiebreaker after winning their match, 21-14.
Purefoods eliminated Terrafirna, 21-20, to arrange a knockout match with Pioneer for the final quarters berth.
The knockout stages were being played as of posting time with the winner getting the top purse of P100,000 while the runner-up and third placers will get P50,000 and P30,000.