AFTER falling short in the first three legs, Purefoods won’t be denied this time.
Leaning on a fiery windup, the Titans carved out a 21-16 victory over Meralco last Sunday to bag the title in the fourth leg of the PBA 3×3 Lakas Ng Tatlo at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Guard Pao Javelona led Purefoods with a game-high 10 points, while Joseph Eriobu chipped in five markers.
Jed Mendoza and Jun onsubre also had three for the Titans, a team with a rich winning tradition in the PBA’s 5-on-5 games.
Javelona, a 6-foot former National University player, sparked a closing 6-1 blitz by Purefoods, including three in a row that allowed the squad to turn a close match into a 18-15 game.
Big man Jun Bonsubre, a replacement for the injured Val Acuna, capped the run with a deuce as Purefoods clinched the Leg 4 title and the top purse of P100,000.
Titans coach Tonyboy Espinosa said his charges’ hard work paid handsome dividends.
“I’m just happy for the boys,” Espinosa said.
“Iyong hard work nila na-reward this time sa fourth leg ng 3×3,” he added.
Javelona said Purefoods was determined to win it all.
“Gusto talaga naming manalo. Kahit anong mangyari sa games, focus lang kami, bad calls man or turnovers,” Javelona said.
“Basta next play kami, kasi sa 3×3 mahirap kapag nag-dwell ka sa mali mo. Mabilis ang laro, so magkakamali ka na, which us like double black eye.”
Meralco, which ruled Leg 2, settled for P50,000 as the quartet of Tonino Gonzaga, Alfred Batino, Joseph Sedurifa, and Dexter Maiquez and coached by Patrick Fran placed runner-up for the second time in the tournament.
In the battle for third, TNT edged top seed Platinum Karaoke 21-20 to take home P30,000.
Samboy De Leon sank the game winner for the Tropang Giga, who are composed of Almond Vosotros, Lervin Flores, and Martin Gozum, who took over the place of injured Jeremiah Gray.
The Titans, who topped Pool C, hurdled Pioneer Pro Tibay in the quarterfinals 20-15 and then rallied to nip the Limitless Appmasters 15-11 in the semis to reach the finals for the first time.
