Tropa fend off Beermen, annex slam

MANILA, Philippines — Continuing its assault on the record books, multi-titled TNT clinched a historic sweep of the three conferences in the PBA 3x3 Season 2 wars yesterday at Robinsons Place Las Piñas.

The Tropang Giga, owners of the First and Second Conference championships, annexed No. 3 with a Lervin Flores-led 21-18 clincher over Grand Finals rival San Miguel Beer.

Flores muscled his way to 11 points on a seven-of-nine field goal along with five rebounds, highlighting his heroics with a personal 4-2 run that put TNT on the hill, 20-18.

Almond Vosotros shot seven spiked by a pair of two-balls while Ping Exciminiano added three, including the golden putback, to seal the Triple Crown despite dealing with the cramps of Samboy de Leon in the finale.

The championship was worth P750,000 and extended the dominance of the PLDT franchise, which has now ruled the last four conference grand finals in the two-year-old league, aside from topping 11 legs.

“Sobrang special ito kasi sa basketball, iilan lang ang nabibigyan ng chance na maka-grand slam,” said De Leon.

SMB’s Ken Bono, Tonino Gonzaga, Wendel Comboy and Leo de Vera, who worked their way to the gold-medal game from the pool stage, settled for runner-up honors and earned P250,000.

Barangay Ginebra rounded out the podium finishers as it beat J&T Express, 21-18, for the bronze and 100,000.