TNT proved its more than just Almond Vosotros as it advanced to the knockout stage of the PBA 3x3 Third Conference Season 2 on Sunday sans its main man.
The Tropang Giga still emerged the top seed in Pool A despite splitting its two games in the Leg 1 pool play on Saturday at the Robinsons Place Novaliches.
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Without Vosotros, who’s currently on a week-long break to fully recover after playing non-stop for five straight conferences, the Tropang Giga lost their initial assignment against Pioneer Elastoseal, 18-16, but bounced back strong by whipping Blackwater, 21-9.
The Tropang Giga ended up in a three-way tie with the Elastoseal and Red President at 1-1, but took the top spot in their group with higher tiebreak points.
Blackwater won over Pioneer, 20-17, though the Elastoseal finished with a higher tiebreak points to earn the No. 2 spot.
TNT will face Pool C second seed J&T (1-1) in the quarterfinals, while Pioneer faces Pool C top seed Barangay Ginebra (2-0).
In a similar tight race for a berth in the knockout stage in Pool D were Meralco, Purefoods, and Platinum Karaoke.
All three likewise ended up with identical 1-1 record, but Purefoods took the No. 1 seed, while Meralco edged Platinum Karaoke by a single tiebreak point to take the no. 2 spot.
Purefoods will meet Pool B second placer San Miguel (1-1), while Meralco faces Pool B topnotcher Cavitex, which swept its two games in the pool play.
Champion team in the initial leg of the season’s final conference will get P100,000.