Purefoods slays giants in PBA 3x3

MANILA, Philippines — Purefoods brought down two leg winners to share the spotlight with unbeaten powerhouses Meralco and Limitless at the start of the PBA 3x3 Second Conference Leg 5 yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Titans, who have placed no higher than eighth in the first four legs of the conference, dropped the axe on Leg 2 victor San Miguel Beer, 21-16, and Leg 1 ruler TNT, 21-15, for pole position in Pool C.

The Tropang Giga and Terrafirma shared second spot behind the Purefoods crew of Joseph Eriobu, Jun Bonsubre, Jed Mendoza and Val Acuna with even 1-1 cards. TNT hacked out a 21-13 victory over the Dyip, who later rebounded with a 21-19 disposal of SMB (0-2).

Leg 4 winner Meralco soared to the top spot in Pool A after disposing of Platinum Karaoke, 21-19, Cavitex, 18-16, and NorthPort, 21-13.

Trailing the Bolts were Pioneer and Cavitex, which posted identical 2-1 slates in the five-team bracket.

Pioneer claimed victories over Platinum, 13-11, and NorthPort, 21-17, before bowing to the Braves, 21-19. Cavitex got its second win at the expense of the winless Batang Pier, 19-18.

Another heavyweight that flexed its muscles was Leg 3 ruler Limitless App, which blitzed past Sista Super Sealers, 21-12, and Master Sardines, 21-15, for the Pool B lead.

Master (1-1) and Sista (1-1) shared No. 2 behind the Southeast Asian Games-bound Appmasters. The Fishing Champs and the Super Sealers were both victorious against Barangay Ginebra, 21-20, and 21-17, respectively.