PHILIPPINE Navy-Go For Gold handed Uratex its first loss in the Women’s PBA 3×3 Invitational via a dramatic 18-17 comeback victory yesterday at the Ayala Malls Market Market in Taguig.
The Lady Sailors battled back behind the crucial endgame plays of Afril Bernardino and Marizze Andrea Tongco to pull off the gripping victory in the battle between unbeaten quartets.
Tongco banged in a pressure-packed deuce and Bernardino scored off a give-and-go play to knot the count at 17-all.
After the Dream turned the ball over with four seconds left, Bernardino did a perfect spin move off Kaye Pingol to nail the game-winner at the buzzer.
Tongco finished with seven points and Bernardino had six marjes as they combined for six of the Lady Sailors’ last seven points.
It was a heartbreaker of a setback for Uratex, which controlled the game early on and enjoyed lead of as many as 8-2.
Angelica Anies tallied six points to lead the Dream, who ended the eliminations with a 4-1 record.
Philippine Navy, however, failed to make a fitting follow up to the win as it lost to Gilas-A in overtime later 13-15.
National team member Camille Clarin buried two free throws in the extra period to seal the win for Gilas after the Lady Sailors forged overtime behind the heroics of Bernardino, who showed the way with eight points.
It was also the first defeat in the eliminations for the Lady Sailors as they ended up sharing the top spot with the Dream.
Both Philippine Navy and Uratex are also already assured of the top two spots in the crossover semifinals slated on Feb. 19 at the Ayala Malls Glorietta in Makati.
