CAN the league’s guest team sustain its charge and win it all?
MCFSolver hopes so, especially after carving out a scintillating 20-18 victory over gritty NorthPort yesterday to reach the quarterfinals for the second straight time in Leg 2 of the PBA 3×3 Season 3 Second Conference at the Ayala Malls Circuit in Makati.
Burly big man Brandon Ramirez sank two pressure-packed free throws in the final 14.0 to shatter an 18-all game and propel Tech Centrale to their second straight win in Pool C on opening day of pool play.
The 6-foot-5 Ramirez tallied 10 points and six rebounds to help the new kids on the block take the top spot in their group and advance to the knockout stage for the second consecutive leg.
Northport fell to 0-2, having lost its first game to Terrafirma 13-16.
Aside from the Tech Centrale, the rest of the teams are still in the running for the remaining quarterfinal slots being disputed at press time yesterday. Only eight will advance to the next round set today at the same venue.
Ginebra kept its hopes alive of moving into the next round following a 17-13 upset of Cavitex.
Unheralded 6-foot-4 Lean Martel emerged as the hero for the Kings with five points and nine rebounds as he held his own against veterans Jorey Napoles and Marion Magat.
The Kings evened their record to 1-1 after initially losing to the San Miguel Beermen in their opening assignment in Pool B 16-20.
They now face Pioneer Elastoseal Katibays in a do-or-die game on the final day of pool play to advance to the knockout stage.
