TROPANG GIGA RULES PBA 3 x 3
4 min readA shower of white confetti greeted the TNT Tropang Giga after Gryann Mendoza buried the game – winning basket to survive past Purefoods, 21 – 19, via overtime in their PBA 3 x 3 Third Conference grand finals clash at the packed Robinsons Place Manila Sunday, July 3.
Lefty Mendoza canned eight markers, including the crucial two – pointer in extra time for TNT’s dramatic come – from – behind victory.
Coach Tropang Giga praised
TNT coach Mau Belen praised his players’ fighting spirit.
“Grabe ang pinakitang puso ng players ko ( My players showed great hearts ). Last 1:30 we were down by four, Purefoods ( was ) two points away from winning the championship. We just didn’t give up. This is the type of team we have,” Belen was quoted as saying.
Almond Vosotros chipped in five points while Samboy de Leon and Lervin Flores made identical four points for TNT, which romped away with the grand prize of P750,000.
The Purefoods Titans, bannered by Eriobu Eriobu, Marvin Hayes, Jed Mendoza, and Jun Bonsubre, settled for the runner – up prize of P250,000.
Vosotros captured the Scoring King of the Conference plum to receive the P30,000 bonus.
TNT also ruled the first, third, and fourth legs while it finished second in the fifth and sixth legs.
Purefoods took a 19 – 15 advantage with Joseph Eriobu’s drive but Belen’s wards put up a searing rally at the stretch.
Tropang Giga Gryann Mendoza
With Mendoza’s twin baskets, Tropang Giga cut the Titan’s lead to just two. His teammate De Leon then buried two charities after he was fouled while grabbing a rebound after Eriobu missed his shot. The match was tied at 19 – all.
Vosotros and De Leon took turns to easily seal the match for Tropang Giga but failed
as time expired.
But all hope was not lost as Mendoza delivered a shot from beyond the arc in extra time.
Earlier, top seed TNT crushed San Miguel Beer, 21 – 15, in the semifinals after demolishing Barangay Ginebra, 21 – 10, in the quarterfinals.
No. 3 Purefoods, meanwhile, outlasted the Sista Super Sealers, 21 – 19, in the other semifinals match after escaping past Limitless, 18 – 16, in the last 16.
The Sista Super Sealers finished third after eking out a 21 – 20 comeback victory over San Miguel.
Down by three points, the Super Sealers came back strong behind Jam Jamon’s back – to – back deuces and Kenneth Mocon’s driving layup.
Sista, who was also composed of Joseph Manlangit and Jamil Gabawan, received P100,000 cash prize.
The Boxscores:
Grand Finals
TNT vs Purefoods TJ
TNT 21 – Mendoza 8, Vosotros 5, De Leon 4, Flores 4.
Purefoods TJ 19 – Hayes 6, Eriobu 6, Mendoza 4, Bonsubre 3.
Battle for third
Sista Super Sealers vs San Miguel Beermen
Sista 21 – Mocon 11, Jamon 5, Gabawan 3, Manlangit 2.
SMB 20 – Comboy 10, Gamalinda 7, Mangahas 2, Gotladera 1.
Semifinals
TNT Tropang GIGA vs San Miguel Beermen
TNT 21 – Vosotros 11, Flores 5, De Leon 3, Mendoza 2.
SMB 15 – Comboy 10, Gotladera 2, Mangahas 2, Gamalinda 1.
Semifinals
Purefoods TJ vs Sista
Purefoods TJ 21 – Eriobu 10, Mendoza 8, Bonsubre 3, Hayes 0.
Sista 19 – Manlangit 6, Mocon 6, Jamon 4, Gabawan 3.
Quarterfinals:
TNT Tropang GIGA vs Barangay Ginebra
TNT 21 – Vosotros 10, Mendoza 6, De Leon 3, Flores 2.
Ginebra 14 – Cabahug 6, Villamor 4, De Vera 4, Gozum 0.
SMB vs Platinum Karaoke
SMB 10 – Comboy 7, Gamalinda 2, Gotladera 1, Mangahas 0.
Platinum Karaoke 8 – Andrada 3, Banal 3, De Chavez 2, Bagatsing 0.
Purefoods TJ vs Limitless Appmasters
Purefoods TJ 18 – Mendoza 9, Eriobu 7, Hayes 1, Bonsubre 1.
Limitless 16 – Salva 7, Napoles 4, Arambulo 4, Camacho 1.
Sista Super Sealers vs Meralco Bolts
Sista 18 – Jamon 8, Manlangit 7, Mocon 2, Gabawan 1.
Meralco 12 – Espanola 5, Batino 4, Morido 2, Maiquez 1.
