CAVITEX made its way past Pioneer Elastoseal, 22-10, to repeat as leg champion of the PBA 3x3 First Conference Season 3 on Tuesday at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay.
The Braves went to Jorey Napoles and Kenneth Ighalo when the title was on the line and the duo promptly delivered to claim the Leg 5 title.
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Napoles and Ighalo finished with seven points each for Cavitex, which bagged the top purse of P100,000 and joined Barangay Ginebra as teams to win back-to-back titles this conference.
The Braves actually had to survive the Kings in the semifinals, 20-19, to earn another trip to the championship game.
Dominick Fajardo and Bong Galanza each had four points for the Braves, who were coached by Kyles Lao.
The Braves were never really in trouble against the upset-conscious Elastoseal, who arranged the showdown with Cavitex following an 18-13 win over Northport in the semis.
It was the second runner-up finish this conference for Pioneer, which takes home P50,000.
Gian Morido tried to carry the Elastoseal by his lonesome, finishing with a team-high eight points as last-minute entry Gian Abrigo, who replaced Enrique Caunan heading to the knockout stage, was held to just a solitary point.
Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra made it back to the podium as it nipped Northport, 21-18, to take third place and the P30,000 cash prize.
Donald Gumaru exploded for 13 big points in leading the Kings, who were champion of Legs 1 and 2.
During the quarterfinals, Northport downed Purefoods, 17-14, Cavitex outgunned Meralco, 16-14, Pioneer nosed out Blackwater, 14-12, and Ginebra got even against TNT, 17-15.
The scores
Third place
Ginebra (21) – Gumaru 13, Salcedo 4, Cu 2, Ubalde 2.
Northport (18) – Capacio 6, Bulawan 6, Bauzon 4, Zamora 2.
Final
Cavitex (22) – Napoles 7, Ighalo 7, Fajardo 4, Galanza 4.
Pioneer (10) – Morido 8, Abrigo 1, Mocon 1, Villamor 0.
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