Limitless claimed all of its three scheduled matches while Platinum Karaoke and Meralco each won twice Saturday, March 19 in the fourth leg of the PBA 3x3 second conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Appmasters opened their quest for a second straight leg crown after prevailing over the Master Sardines Fishing Champs (21-12), NorthPort Batang Pier (21-14) and Leg 2 winner San Miguel Beermen (21-15) to claim the first quarterfinals berth.
Brandon Rosser, Jorey Napoles, Reymar Caduyac and Marvin Hayes can sweep Pool A on Sunday against the Cavitex Braves before heading into the knockout stage of the PBA’s halfcourt competition.
Platinum’s Chris de Chavez, Ryan Monteclaro, Ael Banal and Yutien Andrada beat first leg champion and Leg 3 runner-up TNT with a 16-13 decision before rallying from four points down to stun Pioneer, 21-20, for top spot in Pool B.
Meralco’s Tonino Gonzaga, Alfred Batino, Joseph Sedurifa and Dexter Maiquez are ahead in Pool C after topping Terrafirma, 19-17, and Purefoods, 20-16.
Both Platinum and Meralco need to win their last matches in pool play to punch their ticket to the quarters.
Remaining matches in the preliminaries conclude Sunday starting at 2 p.m. before heading to the knockout stages.
In contention in Pool A are San Miguel and surprising Master Sardines with similar 2-1 slates and Cavitex at 1-2.
Pioneer and TNT are tied at 1-1 while Sista is at 0-2 in Pool B while Terrafirma and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel are tied at 1-1 in Pool C with Purefoods at the bottom at 0-2.
The top three teams in Pool A and each of the first and second placers in Pool B and Pool C will make the quarters outright.
Third placers in Pool B and C meet in a one-game playoff for the last quarters berth.