THE win and the title seemed to be in the bag for Purefoods with less than two minutes left, but TNT showed the heart of a champion and had the last laugh last night.
Getting their acts together just in time, the Tropang Giga eked out a heart-stopping 21-19 overtime victory over the TJ Titans to bag the crown in the grand finals of the PBA 3×3 Third Conference at the Robinsons Place Manila.
A Joseph Eriobu basket gave Purefoods a 19-15 lead at the 1:20 mark of the match but TNT battled back via a 4-0 run capped by Samboy De Leon’s two free throws that forged overtime.
Gryann Mendoza rose to the occasion in the extension, booming in a backbreaking two-pointer that sealed the dramatic come-from-behind triumph for the Tropang Giga.
Mendoza led TNT with eight points, while gunner Almond Vosotros chipped in five points, three rebounds, and three assists.
Samboy De Leon and Lervin Flores also had four points apiece for the Tropang Giga, who won the top prize of P750,000.
The win also served as a fitting payback for TNT, which lost 16-20 to the Titans in the final of Leg 6 last week.
The Mau Belen-mentored Tropang Giga also ruled three Legs in the season-ending tourney of the pro league’s fledgling 3×3 play.
Marvin Hayes paced Purefoods with six points, while Eriobu added six markers.
Jed Mendoza and Jun Bonsubre also had four and three points, respectively for the Titans, who settled for the P250,000 runner-up prize.
In the battle for third, Sista nipped San Miguel 21-20 to cop P100,000.
