Flashy guard Jeff Manday carried San Miguel Beer to a 21-15 victory over Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and rule the second leg crown of the PBA 3x3 second conference Sunday, March 6 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Manday scored the team’s first nine on his way to 14 points which helped set the tone for the Beermen to finally end their elusive quest for a first-ever leg title in the PBA’s halfcourt tournament.
SMB’s Manday, Ken Bono, Bacon Austria and Moncriff Rogado took home the top purse of P100,000 despite making the quarterfinals as the third-place team from Pool A with a 2-2 record.
The Beermen dispatched Platinum Karaoke, 21-17, before ending the dream of Pool A winner Pioneer Pro Tibay in the semifinals, 21-19.
In that semifinal, SMB was holding to a 20-19 lead when Pioneer’s Gian Abrigo was called for a technical because of a second delay of game warning, prompting Bono to clinch the win with a free throw.
Manday would then take charge in the final, knocking down three two-pointers, a layup, followed by another deuce that put San Miguel ahead 9-3 in the first two minutes.
Ginebra was affected with the absence of Jayson David due to an ankle injury in the semis to settle for a runner-up finish and P50,000.
David, Encho Serrano, Denice Villamor and Jollo Go was second in Pool C at 2-1 before avenging its loss to Meralco in the Leg 1 with a 22-15 victory in the quarters.
The Gin Kings then edged out Pool C winner Limitless in the semis, 21-18, after Villamor broke an 18-all tie with a two-pointer and Serrano hitting the clinching basket.
Limitless’ Brandon Rosser, Jorey Napoles, Marvin Hayes and Reymar Caduyac placed third for P30,000 with a 21-13 win over Pioneer’s Carlo de Chavez, Christian Rivera, Robin Rono and Abrigo.