EXCEPT for a slight hiccup in Leg 4, the PBA 3×3 Second Conference certainly belonged to powerhouse TNT.
The Triple Giga punctuated a stellar campaign by winning it all anew in the grand finals for a record sixth straight time last night at the Ayala Malls Trinoma.
Gunner Almond Vosotros shone anew for TNT, booming in the game-winning two-pointer that lifted the Triple Giga to a scintillating 21-20 decision over the gritty Meralco Bolts in overtime to extend their dominance in the fledgling halfcourt game.
Vosotros, 33, showed the way for the quartet of coach Mau Belen with nine points and delivered just in time to douse what had been the most serious threat to their reign.
The Bolts twice came tantalizingly close to upending the defending champions, but couldn’t deliver when it mattered most as Jeff Manday, Raymar Caduyac, and Alfred Batino all missed out on potential game-winning baskets in regulation and in the extra period.
“Tiwala lang kami sa isa’t isa, na hanggang hindi nakaka-shoot iyong kalaban, babalik sa amin ang bola at may tsansa kaming manalo pa,” Ping Exciminiano said of the triumph worth P750,000.
Gryann Mendoza finished with six markers and Exciminiano and Chester Saldua combined for another six for TNT.
It was the sixth conference diadem in a row for the telecommunication franchise dating back to the Third Conference of Season 1 and moved the team on the cusp of repeating its grand slam conquest from last season.
Likewise, it was the perfect finishing touch to a dominant drive that saw the Triple Giga win five of the six legs disputed.
Meralco bagged the P250,000 runner-up purse, with Manday leading the charge with seven points and Caduyac adding six.
The top two seeded teams arranged the title match by closing out their respective semifinal opponents.
TNT ripped Pioneer Elastoseal 21-13, while the Bolts scored a 22-16 win over Cavitex.
In the battle for third and the P100,000 prize money, the Elastoseal nipped the Braves 16-15.