IT’S going to be an open race in the Philippine Basketball Association 3×3 Second Conference Season 2 grand finale.
Tournament director Joey Guanio said all of the 10 teams that made it to Saturday’s grand finale at the Robinsons Town Hall in Malabon re capable of winning the championship and the P750,000 prize money that goes with it.
“During the course of the first two seasons, multiple teams won, that’s the essence of 3×3,” said Guanio as he talked about the unpredictability of the half-court game at the Philippine Sportswriters Association (Forum Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex ground floor.
Top seed Cavitex leads the grand finale roster along with TNT, Platinum Karaoke, J&T Express, Barangay Ginebra, Meralco, Pioneer Elastoseal, Blackwater, San Miguel and Terrafirma. Purefoods and NorthPort failed to qualify.
For finishing in the top four, Cavitex, TNT, Platinum Karaoke and J&T are qualified outright in the quarterfinals, while the six other teams will engage in a pool phase with the top four teams advancing to the playoffs.
Cavitex and TNT won two leg titles each this conference, with the Braves scoring back-to-back in Legs 5 and 6. Guest teams J&T and Platinum Karaoke topped the two other legs.
Still that doesn’t guarantee them the championship.
“Cavitex has a good run and momentum, but of course before you get everything done in 3×3, you have to go through TNT,” Guanio told the session presented by San Miguel Corp., Milo, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
The runner up will get P250,000, while third placer P100,000.