MANILA – After falling short in the first leg, Meralco Bolts completed its conquest in the PBA 3×3 second leg with a 21-16 triumph over Platinum Karaoke in the finals last night at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Luis “Tonino” Gonzaga III spearheaded the Bolts with seven points. Joseph Sedurifa chipped in six markers, while Dexter Maiquez and Alfred Batino had five and three points, respectively.
The Bolts were blazing to start the match behind five early points by Gonzaga for a 10-3 advantage. It grew further to 13-5 on inside baskets from Sedurifa and Batino but consecutive hits from Chris De Chaves allowed Platinum to trim the deficit to 15-11.
Back-to-back hits by Gonzaga and Maiquez widened Meralco’s advantage to 17-11 before Platinum made its last push at 16-18 on a long shot by De Chavez. Bolts finished off the game with three straight points from Sedurifa.
De Chavez top-scored for Platinum Karaoke with 11 points. Karl Dehesa and John Ray Alabanza struggled to finish with two points each, while Yutien Andrada was limited to a basket.
The Bolts finished its Pool B match with 2-1 win-loss slate following victories against Limitless Appmasters (21-19) and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings (21-12) and a loss to Terrafirma Dyip (17-14).
In the quarterfinals, the Bolts leaned on the exploits by Gonzaga to eliminate San Miguel Beermen, 21-12, before exacting its revenge on leg 1 finals opponent TNT Tropang Giga, 21-13, in the semifinals.
For clinching the leg 2 championship of the Level 4 FIBA 3×3 tournament, the Bolts earned the P100,000 cash prize, while Platinum Karaoke settled for P20,000 runner up cash prize.
Meanwhile, the Tropang Giga pulled away from a tight contest behind Jeremiah Gray and Almond Vosotros to score a 21-14 victory over the Appmasters in the battle-for-third place match.
Gray finished the match with six points, while Vosotros, Samboy de Leon and Lervin Flores each ended up with five markers.
The Tropang Giga took home P 30,000 cash for their third place finish./PN
