MANILA – Meralco Bolts gutted out an 18-17 victory over sister team Cavitex Braves to rule Leg 2 of the PBA 3×3 Lakas ng Tatlo on Sunday afternoon at the Robinsons Place Las Piñas.
Alfred Batino and Joseph Sedurifa spearheaded the offense for the Bolts with seven markers apiece. Dexter Maiquez chipped in three markers as Maclean Sabellina added a basket before suffering a knee injury.
Down 16-11 midway in the championship game, Batino scored a basket followed by back-to-back outside conversions from Sedurifa to tie the score at 16-all.
In the extension period, Cavitex took a 17-16 lead on a basket by Dominick Fajardo but an outside conversion from Maiquez secured the championship for Meralco.
“Sacrifice lang talaga. Humugot kami ng lakas sa isa’t isa,” said Maiquez, who squad had to survive a grueling five-game assignment for the day to capture their third leg championship and P100,000 cash.
Cavitex quartet Prince Rivero, Pedrito Galanza, Fajardo and Aklanon Tzaddy Rangel, meanwhile, settled for runner-up honors worth P50,000. This was the team’s best finish in the league so far.
Meralco reached its sixth finals appearance after knocking out Leg 1 winner TNT Tropang Giga in the quarters, 18-17, and Leg 1 second-placer Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings in the semis, 19-15.
Cavitex, on the other hand, broke through with a finals berth after upsetting Last-8 opponent Limitless App in overtime, 21-10, and Final Four foe Terrafirma Dyip, 22-11.
Meanwhile, third conference first leg runner up Barangay Ginebra rounded out the podium finishers after edging Terrafirma in the third place battle, 20-19.
Leodaniel De Vera top-scored with nine points, while Martin Gozum, Dennice Villamor and Mike Cabahug had six, three and two, respectively, as the Gin Kings went home with P30,000./PN
