PBA 3x3: TNT stuns Platinum to take top seed in Pool A

Almond Vosotros won it for TNT in OT. PBA Images
By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--The team considered to be the heavy favorite on paper has been taken down.

TNT pulled off a huge giant-slaying right in the final game of the PBA 3x3 Leg 1 pool stages, upsetting Platinum Karaoke, 21-20, on Sunday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

TNT never wavered despite the fact that the team is facing a group consisting of FIBA 3x3 Pro Circuit veterans and kept the game close, even forcing overtime at 19-all.

In the race-to-two extension, however, Almond Vosotros scored the winning shot as TNT swept Pool A en route to taking the top seed entering the quarterfinals.

Vosotros finished with eight points, while Jeremiah Gray added six.

Karl Dehesa led Platinum, which will settle for the second seed, with seven points.

Both teams have already qualified for the quarterfinals along with Purefoods.

Meanwhile, Meralco swept Pool B with a 21-12 rout of Ginebra.

Zags Gonzaga, who like Dehesa played in last year's Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 bubble season in Calamba, sizzled for 13 points to lead the Bolts, even outscoring the Gin Kings.

Dennice Villamor tallied five markers for Ginebra, which fell to a knockout showdown with NorthPort for the last quarterfinal spot.

The Batang Pier fell prey to the CAVITEX Braves, 20-21, in the last Pool C match despite LA Revilla's 12-point explosion.

Larry Fonacier made seven points to lead, CAVITEX, which took the second seed for Pool C.

Third Game

Meralco 21 - Gonzaga 13, Sedurifa 4, Maiquez 3, Batino 1.

Ginebra 12 - Villamor 5, Go 4, Cani 2, Cabahug 1.

Fourth Game

CAVITEX 21 - Fonacier 7, Soberano 7, Lao 4, Reyes 3.

NorthPort 20 - Revilla 12, Faundo 4, Calisaan 3, Olayon 1.

Fifth Game

TNT 21 - Vosotros 8, Gray 6, Flores 5, De Leon 2.

Platinum 20 - Dehesa 7, De Chavez 6, Alabanza 4, Andrada 3.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno