MERALCO won’t be denied this time as it clinched the Leg 2 title of the Philippine Basketball Association 3×3 Lakas Ng Tatlo at the expense of guest team Platinum Karaoke, 21-16, in Thursday’s finale at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Tonino Gonzaga sparked the Bolts’ fast start, accounting for three of the team’s first four points that set the tempo for Meralco’s championship run after falling short in the opening leg last week.
The veteran guard out of Ateneo finished with seven points to steer the team to the title and the prize purse of P100,000.
The Bolts, coached by Patrick Fran, received balanced contributions from Joseph Sedurifa who finished with six points, including the last three of the team, Dexter Maiquez with five, and Alfred Batino with three.
Meralco had little time to savor its victory though as play resumes Saturday also at the same Pasig City venue for Leg 3.
Chris De Chavez topscored with a game-high 11 points for Platinum Karaoke, which bagged runner-up honor worth P50,000, while maiden leg winner TNT Tropang Giga fell short of a back-to-back title and finished third to receive P30,000 after beating Limitless Appmasters, 21-14.
On its way to the winner-take-all finals, Meralco avenged its championship loss against TNT as Gonzaga and company bundled out the Tropang Giga in the semifinals, 21-13. They eliminated the San Miguel Beermen earlier at the start of the knockout stage, 21-12.
Platinum Karaoke meanwhile, knocked off Sista Super Sealers in the quarterfinals, 20-17, and followed it up with a 21-16 win in the semifinals against Limitless Appmasters, 21-16, to arrange the title showdown with Meralco.
The runner up finish though, is the highest so far achieved by one of the three guest teams that also included Pioneer Pro Tibay and Zamboanga Valientes.
Platinum Karaoke, also composed of Karl Dehesa, Yutien Andrada and JR Alabanza, and coached by Anton Altamirano, reached the semifinals of the opening leg but lost to Meralco.