MANILA – Larry Fonacier turned back the clock as the CAVITEX Braves pulled off a 20-19 stunner over sister team TNT Tropang Giga in the second leg of PBA 3×3 basketball last night at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
The 39-year-old Fonacier, who is making a basketball return after almost two years, spearheaded the Braves with 10 points, including a game-winning layup with 12.2 seconds in the match. The Braves now have a 2-1 slate in Pool A.
CAVITEX played catch up for most part of the game and were down 15-18 before Fonacier and Amiel Cris Soberano took turns on offense to tie the score at 19-all with over a minute left.
Prior to the huge upset victory, CAVITEX suffered a defeat to Sista Super Sealers, 22-16, before recovering with a 21-8 domination over Valientes behind the hot shooting of Soberano.
Regardless of the defeat, which was TNT’s first in the entire PBA 3×3 competition including the first leg, the Tropang Giga remains on top of the group with a 3-1 win-loss record.
TNT, the PBA 3×3 leg one champions, started the second leg with a 21-18 victory over Zamboanga Valientes, 21-17 beating of Super Sealers and 21-12 domination of San Miguel Beermen.
The Super Sealers, which were win-less in the first leg, showed improvement in the ongoing leg after winning three of their four matches to tie Tropang Giga on top of Pool A.
Leodaniel de Vera drilled a game-winning two pointer as the Super Sealers averted an endgame collapse against the Beermen, 21-19. Before that, Sista also won against the Braves, 22-16, and Valientes, 22-18.
Pioneer Pro Tibay, meanwhile, surged to a 2-0 start in Pool C following a 22-12 domination over NorthPort Batang Pier and 20-19 upset over Purefoods TJ Titans behind game-winner by Robin Rono.
Roider Cabrera drilled consecutive one-legged outside conversions as Terrafirma Dyip pulled off a come-from-behind 19-17 overtime win over Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings.
Terrafirma finished on top of Pool B with 2-0 win-loss record./PN
