 |
| Despite a stunning win against Riga, Pasig-TNT failed to make the FIBA 3x3 Quebec Challenger quarterfinals. PBA Images (file photo) |
MANILA--Pasig-TNT suffered a 21-17 defeat to Wuxi early Sunday (Philippine Time), which turned out to be the decisive heart-breaker for the newly-crowned PBA 3x3 First Conference champion as they kissed their FIBA 3x3 Quebec Challenger quarterfinal hopes goodbye.
The result forced a triple-tie with Riga in Pool C action, but the tiebreaker rule put Pasig-TNT at a disadvantage and Riga and Wuxi entered the quarterfinals.
Pasig-TNT, which sent its ever-reliable core of Almond Vosotros, Gryann Mendoza, and Ping Exciminiano to Canada with Raoul Odou joining them as their foreign reinforcement, stunned Riga, 21-20, in their first assignment.
Riga bounced back with a 21-20 win against Wuxi, putting pressure on Wuxi to beat Pasig-TNT to stay alive, which they eventually did.
Riga and Wuxi, which both finished with 41 points in pool play, got the quarterfinal seats, eliminating Pasig-TNT, which only tallied 38.
Had Pasig-TNT ruled the Quebec Challenger or at least made the Top 3, they could have joined Wuxi and even fellow PBA 3x3 competitor Quezon City-Wilcon Depot in the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Cebu Masters.
As it stands, only QC-Wilcon, which ruled the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 Quest on Saturday night in Sta. Rosa City, and a team coming from the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 program will represent the Philippines in the Chooks-to-Go-sponsored Cebu Masters.
Follow him on X: @IvanSaldajeno
.jpg)
