GUEST team MCFSolver eked out a thrilling 20-18 victory over a hard-fighting Northport side to claim a second straight quarterfinal berth in the PBA 3x3 Season 3 Second Conference at the Ayala Mall Circuit in Makati on Monday.
Brawny Brandon Ramirez sank two pressure-packed free throws in the final 14 seconds to break a tight 18-18 contest and hand out Tech Centrale its second straight win in Pool C on the opening day of pool play.
See Tim Cone back from US, but says 'no definite import yet' for Ginebra
The 6-foot-5 Ramirez finished with 10 points and six rebounds to help the new kids on the block take the top spot in their group and advance to the knockout stage for the second consecutive legs.
Northport fell to a 0-2 record as it lost its first game against Terrafirma, 16-13.
The Tech Centrale however, failed to complete a sweep of its pool games as they dropped a 21-13 decision to Meralco (2-0) for a 2-1 record. The Bolts likewise made it to the next round.
Also booking seats in the quarterfinals were Leg 1 winner TNT and Blackwater in Pool A, and Cavitex in Pool B.
The Triple Giga (2-0) advanced unscathed after blasting Purefoods, 21-15, to take the top spot in Pool A. They earlier downed Blackwater, 21-16, as top scorer Almond Vosotros finally saw action for the team.
But the Bossing bounced back to tie their slate at 1-1 with a 20-15 win over Purefoods to take the last quarterfinals seat in their group.
Meanwhile, Cavitex finished with a 2-1 record in Pool B by pulling off a close 22-20 win over San Miguel.
The Braves earlier lost a 17-13 decision to Barangay Ginebra which kept its hopes alive of moving into next round.
Unheralded 6-foot-4 Lean Martel emerged as the best player of the game with five points and nine rebounds as he held his own against the Braves’ seasoned veterans Jorey Napoles and Marion Magat.
The Kings evened their record at 1-1 after initially losing to the San Miguel Beermen in their opening assignment in Pool B, 20-16.
They now face Pioneer Elastoseal Katibays in a do-or-die game in the final day of pool play to advance in the knockout stage.
The Katibays also sport an even 1-1 record in Pool B after winning over San Miguel, 16-14, and previously losing to Cavitex, 16-12.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
