February 7 ------ CAVITEX finished its campaign in the PBA 3x3 Third Conference on a high note, ruling the final leg of the 3rd season at the Ayala Malls Market Market. Jorey Napoles answered the call for the Braves, who foiled the upset bid of Blackwater Razer Smooth, 20-18, to win Leg 6 and the P100,000 top purse.
The former 3x3 national team member finished with 13 points and eight rebounds, while scoring the Braves’ last three points to clinch the emotional win. Cavitex barely made it to the knockout stage as it struggled during the group phase and had to wait for the outcome of the MCFASolver-Purefoods knockout match – which the Titans won – before clinching a quarterfinals berth. But the Braves were a different team come the playoffs, axing Barangay Ginebra in the quarterfinals, 21-17, before eliminating Leg 5 champion TNT in the semis, 18-16, to reach the championship round of the conference for the first time.
Blackwater however, proved to be a tough customer. The Smooth Razor actually had the Braves on the ropes, 18-17, with 74 seconds to go when Napoles finally took matters into his own hands. He tied the game on a layup, and then barreled his way inside to give Cavitex the lead for good, 19-18. RJ Deles had a chance to tie the game for the last time, but missed on an open layup. “Ito yung brand ng NLEX basketball,” claimed Napoles afterwards. “Kasi nung eliminations, 50-50 kami talaga. Puwede kaming ma-out kaya hinintay pa namin yung game ng Purefoods and MCFASolver.”
Kenneth Ighalo had four points and Bong Galanza and Clint Doliguez rounded out the scoring for Cavitex of coach Kyles Lao. The runner-up finish worth P50,000 for Blackwater was a first in franchise history and a good momentum builder leading to the grand finals two weeks from now. In the battle for third, TNT defeated Meralco, 21-16, to take home the P30,000 prize money.
The scores
Third place
TNT (21) - Saldua 9, Mendoza 7, Torres 5.
Meralco (16) – Manday 5, Batino 5, Sedurifa 3, Caduyac 3.
Finals
Cavitex (20) – Napoles 13, Ighalo 4, Doliguez 2, Galanza 1.
Blackwater (18) – Deles 8, Comboy 7, Bayla 3, Publico 0.
Source: spin.ph
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