Terrence Tumalip and Matt Salem led the charge for Terrafirma Dyip before Dhon Reverente and Jedd Bulawan joined in to stun Leg 2 winner Meralco, 22-18, at the start of Leg 3 of the PBA 3X3 Lakas Ng Tatlo tournament at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig on Saturday, Nov. 27.
Tumalip led the Dyip with seven points while Salem had six markers. Reverente and Bulawan scored the game’s final four points of the match to clinch the win and take the early lead in Pool A.
The Bolts suffered the loss two days after claiming the Leg 2 championship at the expense of guest team Platinum Karaoke.
Also winning in Pool A action was Pioneer Pro Tibay, which turned back a last-ditch rally by NorthPort to prevail, 21-17.
Pioneer raced to an early 9-0 lead but needed to survive Batang Pier’s comeback bid anchored on LA Revilla, before claiming the 21-17 victory.
Leg 2 runner-up Platinum Karaoke, with Ryan Monteclaro joining the team for the first time, broke through the win column in Pool B with a 22-17 victory over Barangay Ginebra.
In a thrilling Pool C game, Jeremiah Gray scored on a flurry of late baskets to help maiden champion TNT Tropang Giga triumphed over the Cavitex Braves, 20-17.
The rest of the 17 games scheduled on opening day are still being played as of press time.
The final day of Leg 3 is set on Sunday, Nov. 28, with the remaining six games in pool play to be held first before the knockout stage is played.
The top three teams in Pool A progress to the next stage, along with the top two in Pool B, and the top two in Pool C, respectively.
The no. 3 team in Pool B, meanwhile, will play its counterpart in Pool C to complete the quarterfinal cast.
The Leg champion will receive P100,000 prize money, the runner-up P50,000, and the third placer P30,000.
The scores
Game 1
Terrafirma (22) – Tumalip 7, Salem 6, Reverente 5, Bulawan 4.
Meralco (18) – Maiquez 6, Sedurifa 6, Gonzaga 4, Batino 2.
Game 2
Pioneer (21) – Escalambre 9, De Chavez 5, Rivera 5, Abrigo 2.
NorthPort (17) – Revilla 2, Calisaan 5, Faundo 3.
Game 3
Platinum (22) – Dehesa 8, Alabanza 6, Monteclaro 6, De Chavez 2.
Ginebra (15) – Go 6, Villamor 5, Cabahug 3, Cunanan 1.
Game 4
TNT (20) – Gray 12, De Leon 7, Vosotros 1.
Cavitex (17) – Soberano 6, Fonacier 4, Reyes 4, Fajardo 3.
(PBA) -bny
