IT'S been heartbreak after heartbreak for Meralco over the last four conferences.
The team settled for bridesmaid finishes in the two times it reached the leg finals then bungled a good chance to topple TNT in the battle for the PBA 3x3 Season 3 Second Conference championship.
On Tuesday, the Bolts decided enough is enough.
Coach Patrick Fran's charges seized a 13-8 cushion then quelled the furious uprising of the MCFASolver, 15-13, to strike gold at last in Leg 1 of the Third Conference at the Ayala Malls Glorietta.
Alfred Batino (five points), Jeff Manday (five), Reymar Caduyac (three) and Joseph Sedurifa (two) delivered big-time to give Meralco its first leg triumph since its conquest Leg 3 back in the opening conference of Season 2.
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"Finally, we're here," said Sedurifa, whose only basket of the final, a two-pointer, gave the Bolts more breathing space, 15-11.
"Salamat sa Diyos. Credit to the coaches and the staff, trinabaho nila talaga ito, especially coach Pat (Fran), and my teammates."
Meralco banked P100,000 and 100 Tour points for this feat, which jacked up its overall collection to five leg wins since the inaugurals in 2021.
MCFASolver's Brandon Ramirez (six), TH Tumalip (three), Yutien Andrada (two) and Louie Vigil (two) settled for runner-up honors and P50,000 after falling short of their bid for a followup to their maiden triumph in Leg 4 in the previous conference.
Meanwhile, Cavitex Jorey Napoles (seven), Tonino Gonzaga (six), Philip Paniamogan (four) and Ken Ighalo (four) beat Purefoods for third spot, 21-18 to make the podium and earn P30,000. (OL)
