Pasig-TNT escapes Davao-based side's upset bid to rule Red Bull 3x3

Pasig-TNT dances while celebrating their Red Bull Half Court National Finals win. Ivan Saldajeno

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—Pasig-TNT survived a huge fight from Davao-based Blancas to score a 15-13 win in the Red Bull Half Court National Finals championship game on Saturday night at the Liwasang Bonifacio.

The Triple Giga, now the top 3x3 team in the Philippines, found itself in a grind-out as Blancas, the champion of the Davao qualifiers, put up a gallant fight.

Still, the PBA 3x3 powerhouse, one of the direct invites to the event, showed their might down the stretch with Lervin Flores scoring the game-winning two-point-play with 4.8 seconds left to escape with the win.

"As you've seen, it went down to the wire—to the last 30 seconds——kung sino ang kakapit at sino yung magpe-perform nang mabuti," Pasig-TNT coach Mau Belen said after the hard-fought final.

The women's final between Uratex Dream and Discovery Perlas also went down the wire with Uratex emerging victorious in a low-scoring 9-6 affair.

With Pasig-TNT and Uratex Dream successfully defending their national titles in Red Bull's 3x3 event, they will fly to New York City for the Red Bull Half Court World Final in October.

With the next six months possibly hectic assuming they get invites to FIBA 3x3 Challengers and World Tour Masters and pending the starting date for the new PBA 3x3 season, Belen hopes that Red Bull would help the Triple Giga get the clearance from the PBA to join.

"Ang kagandahan, six months pa siya, so hopefully, Red Bull can help us out in writing up and requesting to the PBA na itong week na ito [ay devoted sa World Final]," she further said.

For now, Pasig-TNT and Uratex Dream get to enjoy their latest championships.

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