AFTER six well-fought legs, the top 10 teams of the PBA 3×3 led by No. 1 Limitless and No. 2 TnT battle it out for the ultimate prize in the Second Conference Grand Finals on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Appmasters seek to live up to their billing as the most accomplished squad in the standalone league, having previously won the First Conference crown and topping a total of four legs prior to the one-day finale.
Out to provide a serious challenge to the Southeast Asian Games-bound Limitless are the Almond Vosotros-led Tropang Giga, who are determined to go all the way after taking bronze in the maiden conference finals.
Similarly tipped to contend is No. 3 Meralco, which is embarking on a redemption tour after a disappointing exit in the quarterfinal round of the previous grand final.
No. 4 San Miguel Beer, meanwhile, looks to carry over the momentum from its amazing triumph in last week’s Leg 6 to vie for top honors.
Sitting in the lower ranks but definitely capable of springing surprises are Pioneer Pro Tibay (277), Barangay Ginebra (267), Platinum Karaoke (266), Purefoods (238), Sista (180) and Terrafirma (136).
The Appmasters, the Tropang Giga, the Bolts and the Beermen are seeded straight into the quarterfinal round while the six others have to dispute the four remaining berths in the preliminary phase beginning at 9 a.m.
Pioneer, Purefoods and Sista vie in Pool A while Ginebra, Platinum and Terrafirma slug it out in Pool B with the top 2 squads in each group advancing to the quarters.
A cool P750,000 awaits the conference champion while P250,000 goes to the runner-up and P100,000 to the third placer. — Olmin Leyba