MERALCO’S loss is San Miguel Beer’s gain.
Making an immediate impact, new addition Tonino Gonzaga led the Beermen to a come-from-behind 21-17 victory over Pioneer to bag the title in Leg 1 of the PBA 3×3 Third Conference Season 2 yesterday at Robinsons Novaliches.
Gonzaga, who previously suited up for the Bolts, scored three straight two-pointers to carry SMB home for the top prize of P100,000.
In all, the veteran lefty guard fired nine points and grabbed seven rebounds while burly big man Ken Bono added eight markers and six boards.
Dariel Bayla and Leo De Vera also combined for four points for the Boycie Zamar-mentored quartet, which bagged its second leg title overall.
Pioneer led 17-15 but Gonzaga took charge and scored six straight points to win it for San Miguel.
The Elastoseal drew a combined 13 points from new recruits Kenneth Mocon and Dennice Villamor as the team settled for the P50,000 runner-up purse.
Earlier, Cavitex claimed a podium finish after a 16-14 decision over TNT in their battle for third.
Jorey Napoles had five points and seven rebounds for the Braves, who claimed P30,000.
The unlikely finals between San Miguel and Pioneer took place after the two teams pulled the rug from under their favored semifinal foes.
Bono powered the Beermen with 12 points and eight rebounds in a 21-17 triumph over the tropang Giga.
The Elastoseal banked on Villamor and edged Cavitex 18-16.
In the quarterfinals, SMB whipped Purefoods 21-12 while Pioneer held off Ginebra 18-16.
TNT blasted J&T Express 21-12 while the Braves trounced Meralco 15-10.
