BACK-TO-BACK-seeking Meralco and hungry TNT got out of the gates hot and blazed their way into the quarterfinals of Leg 4 of the PBA 3x3 Season 3 Third Conference Monday at Ayala Malls Circuit.
With Joseph Sedurifa at the tip of attack, the Bolts overpowered Terrafirma, 21-10, and Cavitex, 22-13, to sweep three-team Pool A and build strong momentum for their drive to a follow up to their Leg 3 win and a third triumph overall in the conference counting their Leg 1 conquest.
Sedurifa matched the Dyip's 10 in their opening romp then rifled in 11 versus the Braves to spark the Bolts' charge.
The Braves (1-1) nosed out Terrafirma (0-2) for the group's second and last ticket to Tuesday's KO round on account of their pulsating 20-19 overtime escapade against the latter behind the winning deuce of Bong Galanza.
Off to a fiery start with ace gunner Almond Vosotros back in tow after a one-leg absence due to illness were the Triple Giga, who took No. 1 in Pool B with 3-0.
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Vosotros knocked down the marginal two-pointer as Leg 3 runner-up TNT edged Pioneer in extra time, 15-14, to get things started. The multi-titled Triple Giga, who are still winless in this conference,
followed this through with identical 21-15 romps over Blackwater and NorthPort.
Also marching on were Leg 2 winner MCFASolver and Blackwater, which submitted a 2-1 card in Pools C and B, respectively.
Bouncing back from an opening 18-21 loss to Ginebra, the Tech Centrale eked out an 18-17 OT win over Purefoods then demolished San Miguel Beer, 22-11, to progress.
After their morning setback to TNT, the Smooth Smooth Razor pumped life into their drive with a pair of victories over NorthPort, 22-14, and Pioneer, 18-16.
The race to the remaining seats to the quarters continues Tuesday morning in the last two games of pool play. Pioneer (0-2) and NorthPort (0-2) clash in Pool B in a virtual rubbermatch for the Final 8 while SMB (1-1) and Purefoods (1-1) figure in a Pool C tiff with implications on the chase for two quarters tickets among the Beermen, the Titans and Ginebra (1-2).
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The quarterfinals featuring the Top 2 of Pool A and the Top 3 of Pools B and C immediately commence after pool play.
Winner of Leg 4 wins P100,000 and 100 tour points.(OL)
