TNT Triple Giga ended the leg phase of the Philippine Basketball Association 3×3 Second Conference the way it started it.
Gunner Almond Vosotros caught fire and keyed a telling run in the homestretch of a 21-14 win over Cavitex Braves to clinch the last championship leg of the conference on Tuesday at the Ayala Malls Trinoma.
Vosotros finished with nine points and five rebounds, while Ping Exciminiano hit the game-winning deuce as the Triple Giga bagged their fifth title out of the six legs at stake.
Only the Leg 4 crown slipped from the hands of TNT after it was beaten in the semifinals by eventual champion MCFASolver.
Counting the latest P100,000 prize money it won, the telecommunication franchise has won a total of P500,000 so far going into next week’s grand finals.
Chester Saldua added five points, and Gryann Mendoza and Exciminiano had four and three, respectively for the Triple Giga of coach Mau Belen.
“As I’ve told my teammates and my family, this opportunity only comes once. When it was already presented in front of you, always grab it right away,” said Exciminiano, whose two-pointer closed out the game with still 1:29 to go.
Vosotros hit four straight points to cap a 7-1 TNT run for a 19-13 lead shortly after the Braves tied the game for the last time at 12-all.
The Triple Giga emerged unbeaten in winning Leg 6, including a 21-19 victory over Meralco in the semis, and edging out Blackwater in the quarterfinals, 18-16.
Jorey Napoles and Bong Galanza finished with six points each to pace Cavitex, which bagged the runner-up purse of P50,000.