BARANGAY Ginebra's intact crew quickly went to work and drew first blood in the PBA 3x3's new season.
Displaying chemistry and experience playing in many battles since last season, Gin Kings Donald Gumaru, Kim Aurin, Ralph Cu and Ralph Salcedo swept their way to the Season 3 First Conference Leg 1 crown Tuesday at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay.
And Kirk Collier's charges capped off a spotless title run over six games with a pulsating 19-17 overtime victory over championship rival San Miguel Beer.
Gumaru delivered the biggest shot of all - a booming corner two-pointer in extra time - to highlight his team-high eight markers in Ginebra's triumphant season-opener.
Gumaru made three two-balls in all and was complemented by Kim Aurin, who delivered 5 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, Ralph Cu, who accounted for 4 points, 3 steals, and Ralph Salcedo, who scored 2 points, in the clincher.
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The four, who geared up for the half-court hostilities by playing in the PBA on Tour, struck gold for the second time after giving Ginebra its PBA 3x3 breakthrough win in Leg 3 of the Season 2 Third Conference.
"Very memorable ito at masaya kami kasi kami pa rin ang magkakasama this season," said Cu.
Ginebra, the Pool C topnotcher with a 3-0 card, reached the finale after beating Pioneer Elastoseal in the quarterfinals, 19-16, and Terrafirma in semifinals, 17-13.
It was a heartbreaking end for Beermen Ken Bono, Marvin Lee, Chester Saldua and John Apacible, who blew a 17-16 lead in regulation and flubbed the opening two-point attempt in the OT.
SMB, which booted out top seed TNT, 22-14, and No. 2 Cavitex, 18-10, on the way to the finals, settled for runnerup honors and P50,000.
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The Braves' Tonino Gonzaga, Dominick Fajardo, Jorey Napoles and Ken Ighalo took the bronze and P30,000 after dispatching the Dyip's Jordan Rios, Red Cachuela, Ken Duremdes and Jason Tan, 21-15.
Ginebra and San Miguel engaged in a thrilling finale that featured 11 deadlocks.
Saldua forged the last tie at 17-17 on a drive with 19 seconds left in regulation then SMB forced Aurin to miss two potential game winners.
But Aurin quickly atoned for it with a clutch defensive rebound off Bono's missed attempt at a golden deuce and a pinpoint feed to Gumaru at the left corner for the marginal shot.
"Overtime, first to score two points, then na-open ako so I shot it. Confident naman ako kasi pina-practice yun everyday at nagbunga naman," said Gumaru. (OL)
