TOP gunner Almond Vosotros delivered the killer blows as TnT rallied past Meralco, 21-19. — PBA IMAGES

To rule first leg of PBA 3×3  Second Conference

TOP gunner Almond Vosotros delivered the killer blows as TnT rallied past Meralco, 21-19, to rule the first leg of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) 3×3 Second Conference on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Mr. Vosotros fired nine of his 10 points in the last 5:04, including the winning two-pointer, as TnT wiped out a 13-8 deficit en route to the pulsating leg win worth P100,000.

Samboy de Leon and debuting Mark Acuno chipped in four apiece while Lervin Flores added three as the Tropang Giga repeated over Meralco in a rematch of their showdown for the First Conference kickoff leg plum last November.

The feat made the Mau Belen-coached Tropang Giga only the second team after Limitless App, the maiden conference grand champion, to top two legs in the PBA 3×3 inaugural season.

“It’s tough because when the league had a one-month break, we felt the momentum stopped. But we practiced hard (when allowed), almost once a week lang ang pahinga during the preparations and luckily, it paid off,” said Mr. Belen.

Meralco’s Tonino Gonzaga, Alfred Batino, Joseph Sedurifa and Dexter Maiquez settled for the P50,000 runner-up purse.

Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra’s new-look squad of pioneers Jollo Go and Denice Villamor and newbies Encho Serrano and Jayson David beat fancied Limitless, 21-17, for its first podium finish. The Gin Kings netted P30,000.

The Gin Kings swept their four assignments in Pool A then turned back San Miguel Beer, 21-14, to reach the semifinal stage for the first time. However, the Bolts stopped Ginebra on its track, 21-20 behind Sedurifa’s marginal free throw, to move on to the gold medal match against TnT, which ousted Limitless, 20-19, on a deuce by Mr. Vosotros. — Olmin Leyba

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