PUREFOODS ended a dry spell in the PBA 3×3 as it topped Leg 6 of the Third Conference with a 20-16 finals victory over multi-leg winner TNT yesterday at the Robinsons Place Manila.
Joseph Eriobu fired 11 points, including three two-pointers, to spark the Titans to cushions of 8-2 and 14-6 versus TNT en route to their first conquest since Leg 4 back in the First Conference.
Mr. Eriobu, Jed Mendoza, Jun Bonsubre and Marvin Hayes banked P100,000 for reigning supreme in the last stage before the conference’s Grand Finals.
“Sabi ko sa kanila, kung sino’ng mas gutom na team, yun ang mananalo dito. Nag-commit naman lahat sila sa (finals) game para makuha namin ito,” said Mr. Hayes, a former stalwart of First Conference champion Limitless who joined Purefoods after his stint with Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 in the Southeast Asian Games.
Tropang Giga Almond Vosotros, Lervin Flores, Samboy de Leon and Ping Exciminiano settled for the P50,000 runner-up purse as they fell short of adding to their triumphs in the first, third and fourth legs of the tournament.
On its way to its first finals stint of the season-ending conference, Purefoods defeated Platinum Karaoke in the quarterfinals, 21-15, and Meralco in the semifinals, 19-17.
TNT, for its part, took its familiar place in the gold medal match after disposing of quarters rival Cavitex, 21-16, and semis foe Limitless App, 18-16.
The Bolts joined the Purefoods and TNT in the podium after edging the Appmasters in the battle for third, 18-17, with Dexter Maiquez nailing the go-ahead. Mr. Maiquez, Tonino Gonzaga, Alfred Batino and JJ Espanola netted P30,000. — Olmin Leyba