CAVITEX groped for form in the group phase but shifted to high gear when it mattered most and was aptly rewarded with handsome dividends late Tuesday night.
Jorey Napoles banged in the clutch baskets down the stretch as the Braves held off upset-conscious Blackwater 20-18 to clinch the final Leg of the PBA 3×3 Third Conference Season 3 at the Ayala Malls Market Market in Taguig.
Napoles scattered 13 points for Cavitex, none more important than the last three buckers, which finally bagged a Leg crown for the first time this conference.
The former 3×3 national team member scored on consecutive layups to give Cavitex the lead for good 19-18 before adding another free throw to seal the triumph worth P100,000.
Kenneth Ighalo added four markers for the Braves of coach Kyles Lao.
“Ito iyong brand ng NLEX basketball,” Napoles said. “Kasi noong eliminations, 50-50 kami talaga. Puwede kaming ma-out kaya hinintay pa namin iyong game ng Purefoods and MCFASolver.”
Cavitex barely made it to the knockout stage as it struggled during the elims and waited until the outcome of the MCFASolver-Purefoods knockout match–which the Titans won–before it was assured of a quarterfinals slot.
But the Braves were a different team in the playoffs, ousting Ginebra in the Last Eight 21-17 before eliminating Leg 5 champion TNT in the semifinals 18-16 to reach the Big Dance of the conference for the first time.
Blackwater, however, refused to simply lie down and die.
The Smooth Razor had the Braves on the ropes 18-17 with 74 seconds to go when Napoles took matters into his own hands.
The bridesmaid ending worth P50,000 for Blackwater was the first in franchise history and a good momentum build-up leading to the grand finals two weeks from now.
In the battle for third TNT tripped Meralco 21-16 to take home the P30,000 prize money.
