GUEST team Wilcon Depot got off to a perfect debut in the PBA 3x3, sweeping its pool slate to collar a ticket to the First Conference Leg 1 quarterfinals Monday at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay.
TH Tumalip, Keith Datu, Ael Banal, Yutien Andrada made sure it was a rousing start for the league newcomers as they beat second seed Cavitex, 18-16, Purefoods, 18-13, and San Miguel, 21-16, to finish as Pool B No. 1.
Wilcon looks to sustain this momentum today in the Last-8, where it's pitted with the third-ranked team from Pool C.
Season 2 grand slam champion TNT Triple Giga and intact Barangay Ginebra also brought out the brooms on their way to the quarters.
Triple Giga stalwarts Almond Vosotros, Lervin Flores, Ping Exciminiano and Samboy de Leon went 2-0 in three-team Pool A, stamping their class on Blackwater, 20-17, and Pioneer in overtime, 13-11, to advance.
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Pioneer's Gian Abrigo, Enrique Caunan, Denice Villamor and Ken Mocon joined TNT in the quarterfinal march as No. 2 of the group with 1-1. The Katibays nosed out winless Blackwater (0-2) for the other quarters ticket on account of their 15-14 opening verdict.
With the potent crew of Donald Gumaru, Ralph Salcedo, Kim Aurin and Ralph Cu back in the fold, the Gin Kings were efficient in hurdling Pool C rivals NorthPort, 21-11, Meralco, 16-12, and Terrafirma, 22-12.
After Day 1, Cavitex (1-1) ran second behind Wilcon in Pool B followed by San Miguel Beer (1-2) and Purefoods (0-2). The Braves and the Titans face off Tuesday morning to wrap up their elims assignments.
Over in Pool C, it's Meralco (1-1), Terrafirma (1-2) and NorthPort (0-2) behind the spotless Gin Kings. The Bolts and the Batang Pier close out the group's elims Tuesday.
At the end of business in the group stage, the last placed teams in each pool take the exits while the higher-ranked ones move forward to the KO rounds also Tuesday. (OL)
