LEG 1 winner Meralco and perennial contender Cavitex stamped their power in pool play to lead the quarter finalists in Leg 2 of the PBA 3x3 Season 3 Third Conference Monday at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay.
The Bolts, who broke a long dry spell with their conquest of the kickoff leg last Dec. 12, swept their two assignments in three-team Pool A to finish as the group's top quarterfinalist as the Braves, third-placers in Leg 1, posted a hot 3-0 to top four-team Pool C.
Joseph Sedurifa caught fire with 13 as the Patrick Fran-coached Bolts outclassed multi-titled TNT, 21-14, for an explosive start in their back-to-back bid.
Sedurifa then combined for 19 with Manday to power the Bolts past Barangay Ginebra, 21-13, and seal their entry via sweep.
The Triple Giga's Almond Vosotros, Ping Exciminiano, Gryann Mendoza and Chester Saldua (1-1) grabbed the other quarterfinal berth in Pool A on account of their 21-7 romp over the Gin Kings (0-2).
Sponsored content:
Paving a clear path to Tuesday's KO rounds were the Braves' Jorey Napoles, Tonino Gonzaga, Philip Paniamogan and Ken Ighalo, who waylaid Terrafirma, 22-15, and NorthPort, 21-9, before eking a 21-19 thriller over Purefoods off Jorey Napoles' winning deuce.
Leg 1 runner-up MCFASolver and San Miguel Beer, meanwhile, posted identical 2-1 cards in Pool B to collar two of the three tickets to the quarterfinals.
The Beermen nipped the Tech Centrale, 21-19, then overwhelmed Pioneer, 21-12, before falling to Blackwater, 15-17. In between the setback to SMB, MCFASolver posted vital victories at the expense of the Smooth Razor, 17-15, and the Katibays, 21-20.
The quarterfinals chase spills over to the last games of group play Tuesday morning with Blackwater (1-1) and Pioneer (0-2) disputing the remaining ticket in Pool B and Purefoods (1-1) and NorthPort (0-2) seeking to advance in Pool C.
Once the Final 8 cast is settled, the survivors engage in explosive win-or-go-home setting all the way to the duel for leg honors and P100,000 winner's prize. (OL)
