BOOSTED by its title triumph in Leg 1 last week, San Miguel Beer showed the way in the new leg’s opener yesterday.
The Beermen were the first team to advance in the Leg 2 knockout stage after they emerged unscathed in pool play of the PBA 3×3 Third Conference Season 2 at the Robinsons Place Antipolo.
Tonino Gonzaga dazzled anew for the Leg 1 champions, scoring nine points and grabbing six rebounds in a 22-16 victory over Platinum Karaoke.
SMB then followed it up by nipping Meralco 21-18 as Gonzaga shone anew with 11 markers to help the wards of coach Boycie Zamar complete a sweep of Pool A and finish as the top seed heading into the quarterfinals.
J&T Express followed suit with a two-game sweep of Pool C, holding off Cavitex 19-18 behind Joseph Sedurifa, who waxed hot with 12 points, before the veteran guard fired 11 in a 21-14 triumph over Terrafirma.
Matches are still being played for the six other slots in the quarterfinals at press time yesterday.
Other early results of Day 1 competitions saw Purefoods getting one over Pioneer Elastoseal 20-14 and Ginebra spoiling the return of TNT gunner Almond Vosotros with a 21-20 escape.
The Elastoseal, Leg 1 runners-up, managed to bounce back with a 21-19 victory over Blackwater.
The Tropang Giga whipped NorthPort 21-12.
Pioneer and TNT ended pool play with even 1-1 slates in Pools B and D, respectively.
The knockout phase is set today at the same venue, with the champion team getting the top purse of P100,000.
