MANILA, Philippines — TNT grabbed the honors as the first team to win twice in the PBA 3x3 Season 2 wars as the Leg 1 victor annexed the Leg 5 plum of the First Conference yesterday at Robinsons Place Novaliches.
The Tropang Giga used a 15-4 finishing kick to take the fight out of finals foe J&T Express, 21-13, and return to the top after falling short in the last three stops.
Coach Mau Belen’s charges also gained redemption from last week’s botched Leg 4 title drive in Malabon, where they blew a 20-13 lead and fell to San Miguel Beer in overtime, 20-22.
“Sobrang happy and blessed na nag-champion ulit,” said TNT ace Almond Vosotros after his squad jacked up its collection to seven leg wins overall and one conference championship since last year.
Lervin Flores powered through with seven points on a 6-of-8 shooting while Vosotros and Samboy de Leon chipped in five each and Ping Exciminiano shot four, including the clinching two-ball, as TNT went all the way to the diadem and banked P100,000.
J&T’s Joseph Sedurifa, Keith Datu, Marvin Hayes and Robin Roño matched their previous best finish of second place in Leg 3 and took home P50,000.
Cavitex joined TNT and J&T in the podium after scoring a 21-16 victory over fellow losing semifinalist Pioneer Elastoseal. The Braves, winner of Leg 2, netted P30,000 for third.