LEG 4 winner Meralco 3×3 outclassed Legs 3 and 5 victor Limitless in a heavyweight showdown, 22-18, to go 3-0 and grab an early quarterfinal seat in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) 3×3 Second Conference Leg 6 on Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Maclean Sabellina, Tonino Gonzaga, Dexter Maiquez and Joseph Sedurifa unleashed an 11-4 blast to take the fight out of the Appmasters, who struggled with a 1-2 start in Pool A action.
The Bolts made Limitless their third victims of Day 1 after previously stamping their class on Sista Super Sealers, 21-11, and NorthPort, 21-13.
Barangay Ginebra ran second in the group with 2-1, anchoring its output on a 21-17 upset of the Appmasters and a 21-11 mangling of Sista. The Gin Kings, though, fell to the Batang Pier, 21-16.
Fancied Appmasters Brandon Rosser, Jorey Napoles, Reymar Caduyac and Marvin Hayes have a win to show in three games, a 22-15 verdict over NorthPort, and face a must-win in Wednesday’s elims wind-up against Sista (1-2) to salvage a ticket to the Last-8.
TnT and Pioneer Pro Tibay, meanwhile, secured the two quarters spots from Pool B with back-to-back wins.
The Tropang Giga beat Terrafirma, 21-16, and San Miguel Beer, 21-18, while Pioneer prevailed against the Beermen, 17-16, and the Dyip, 16-12.
Purefoods matched TnT and Pioneer’s 2-0 marks to take pole position in Pool C ahead of Platinum Karaoke (1-1) and Cavitex (1-1).
The Titans dominated Master Sardines, 21-9, then turned back Platinum Karaoke, 21-17. Platinum was victorious against Cavitex, 21-16, while the Braves won over the Fishing Champs via the same scoreline. — Olmin Leyba