GUEST team MCFASolver rebounded from its Leg 1 heartbreaker with a morale-boosting conquest of the second leg of the PBA 3x3 Season 3 Third Conference.
This the Tech Centrale did by making the most of their second straight finals stint and winning it all at the expense of San Miguel Beer, 19-17, Tuesday at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay.
Brandon Ramirez, rising to the occasion in his marquee matchup with burly Ken Bono, banged in nine points spiked by a clutch two-ball and layup in the last 3:33 that helped MCFASolver build momentum for the victory.
Louie Vigil shot seven markers, including a split in the last 5.1 seconds, while TH Tumalip added two and Yutien Andra scored one plus seven rebounds to complement Ramirez in the clinching win posted almost a month after falling short of the first-leg title versus Meralco, 13-15.
"We fell short last leg, medyo out of condition kami (then) but we improved on it and focused on the game plan and defensive schemes of our coaches," said Vigil.
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Coach Anton Altamirano's squad banked P100,000 for its Leg 2 triumph, which hiked the franchise's overall collection to two legs. The Tech Centrale previously won Leg 4 of the Second Conference, their debut conference in the PBA 3x3.
Ramirez's deuce sparked a 6-1 blast that enabled MCFASolver to break out of an 11-11 standoff and seize a 17-12 cushion.
SMB threatened to within 17-16 on a Pao Javelona basket but Ramirez gave MCFASolver more breathing space with a short-range shot, 18-17. John Paul Sarao pushed San Miguel one back at 18-17 before Vigil added one on a split free throw and Andrada retrieved the rebound from a Javelona missed two to seal the deal.
Javelona fired six markers to lead SMB which improved from 11th in Leg 1 to second placer in this stop and earned P50,000. John Apacible and Sarao had four apiece as ace Ken Bono was held to three in the finale.
Cavitex landed on the podium for the second straight leg after edging Blackwater in the duel for third, 20-19. The Braves' Tonino Gonzaga, Jorey Napoles, Ken Ighalo and Philip Paniamogan went home with P30,000.
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On its way to the leg championship, MCFASolver beat Terrafirma in the quarterfinals, 21-16, and Cavitex in the semifinals, 21-19. San Miguel defeated Purefoods in the Last-8, 20-17, then hammered a 21-16 victory over upset-conscious semis opponent Blackwater.
Back in the quarterfinals, the Smooth Razor toppled Meralco, 22-20, to end the Bolts' back-to-back bid.(OL)
