BACK on top.
After finishing a lowly sixth and ninth in the first two legs of the PBA 3x3 Season 3 First Conference, a determined TNT turned on beast mode and claimed its old spot at the summit by claiming Leg 3 honors Tuesday at Ayala Malls Manila Bay.
Led by the comebacking Almond Vosotros, the Triple Giga cleared their path back to glory with a six-game sweep of the two-day hostilities capped by a 17-13 finals triumph over Pioneer Elastoseal.
Vosotros, whose absence in last week's leg left TNT with a three-man crew, fired six in the clincher, including a booming two-ball that led to a 13-5 tear and a clutch layup that restored a 17-11 cushion and quelled the Katibay's last-ditch stand.
Lervin Flores and Samboy de Leon shot four apiece while Gryann Mendoza added three as the Triple Giga reigned for the first time securing a grand slam in Season 2.
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The Mau Belen-coached Triple Giga went home with their 12th leg win overall in the league and banked P100,000.
"Sobrang na-miss namin na manalo kaya pinagtrabuhan namin at nag-usap-usap kami ano'ng dapat gawin para makabawi," said Flores.
TNT, which won their three matches in Pool C Monday, continued the charge with a 21-19 quarterfinal dispatching of Barangay Ginebra, thwarting the Leg 1 and 2-winning Gin Kings' bid to make it three straight.
Vosotros and Co. then followed it up with a 20-19 edging of San Miguel in the semis on the winning layup by Flores.
Pioneer's Gian Abrigo, Wilson Baltazar, Reggie Morido and Ken Mocon, who beat semis foe Cavitex in overtime, 19-17, had their best finish in a while and earned P50,000.
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Cavitex's Jorey Napoles, Ken Ighalo, Tonino Gonzaga and Dominick Fajardo went on to beat Beermen Ken Bono, Marvin Lee, Chester Saldua and John Apacible, 20-19, for third and P30,000. It was the Braves' third straight podium finish in Season 3. (OL)
