AFTER surviving the rush of upsets in the quarterfinals and semifinals, TnT asserted its might on surprise finalist Terrafirma, 21-11, to annex Leg 2 of the PBA 3x3 Season 2 Second Conference Tuesday at Ayala Malls Circuit in Makati.
The Triple Giga, the last team standing among the Top 4 finishers of Leg 1 who fell by the wayside in the KO rounds, didn't let this chance slip away and turned to their hot two-point shooting to foil the upset-conscious Dyip.
Gryann Mendoza (eight points), Ping Exciminiano (five), Almond Vosotros (four) and Chester Saldua (four) combined for an 8-of-13 bombardment from deep that staggered Terrafirma, an opponent on a rare first finals appearance.
Mendoza, a late replacement for Matt Salem who hurt his knee in Monday's elims, sparked TNT's outside shooting with three two-balls.
The Mau Belen-coached squad banked P100,000 after following up its Leg 1 triumph last week with another golden run.
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On the way to their record-extending 15th leg conquest, the Triple Giga disposed of San Miguel Beer in the quarterfinals, 21-15, then overcame a tough challenge from Pioneer in the semis, 20-19.
The Dyips' Brandon Rios (four), Ken Duremdes (three), Shaq Alanes (two) and Mark Anthony Francisco (two) took runner-up honors and netted P50,000 in this breakout feat highlighted by a 20-19 reversal over Leg 1 runner-up Cavitex in the quarterfinals and 21-16 disposal of another upset-maker, Blackwater in the semis. Blackwater was responsible for booting out Meralco in the Last-8, 18-16.
"Sobrang respeto namin sa kanila (Terrafirma). Ito yung first nila to reach the finals ulit but nirespeto namin sila, sineryoso namin yung game and we did a good job to win the (leg) championship," said Exciminiano of the Dyip, who were on their first finals appearance since placing second to TnT back in Leg 4 of the Season 1 Third Conference.(OL)
