Bolts lead march to PBA 3x3 KO play

MANILA, Philippines — Meralco dialed to full power and swept its way to the quarterfinals of Leg 2 of the PBA 3x3 Season 3 Third Conference yesterday at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay.

Starting their back-to-back bid with a bang, the Bolts banked on the 13-point explosion of Joseph Sedurifa to dominate TNT, 21-14, then followed up with a 21-13 beatdown of Ginebra in the elims.

With 2-0, Meralco’s Sedurifa, Jeff Manday, Alfred Batino and Reymar Caduyac took Pool A’s No. 1 seeding going to today’s KO rounds.

TNT followed the Bolts to the next round as No. 2 in the three-team group. Almond Vosotros, Ping Exciminiano, Gryann Mendoza and Chester Saldua secured their entry with a 21-7 romp over the Gin Kings (0-2).

Cavitex emerged as the top quarterfinalist from Pool C after going 3-for-3.

The Braves opened things up with a 22-15 verdict over Terrafirma then crushed NorthPort, 21-9, before closing the elims with a thrilling 21-19 escape act over Purefoods off Jorey Napoles’ winning two-ball.

San Miguel Beer and Leg 1 runner-up MCFASolver, meanwhile, led the advance from Pool B with identical 2-1 win-loss cards.

The Beermen beat the Tech Centrale, 21-19, and Pioneer, 21-12, before yielding to Blackwater, 15-17. In between the loss to SMB, MCFASolver picked up victories at the expense of the Smooth Razor, 17-15, and the Katibays, 21-20.

The race for the Final 8 continues today at the end of group play with Blackwater (1-1) and Pioneer (0-2) contesting the remaining ticket in Pool B and Purefoods (1-1) and NorthPort (0-2) eyeing to advance in Pool C.