Pioneer 3x3 gains Pool A top spot

MANILA, Philippines — Pioneer Elastoseal grabbed the spotlight yesterday as it beat Leg 2 winner Cavitex to the top seeding in Pool A heading to the quarterfinals of the PBA 3x3 First Conference Leg 3 at Robinsons Place Las Piñas.

Katibays Reggie Morido, Gian Abrigo, Christian Rivera and debuting Clint Doliguez edged the Braves, 16-15, to get things going then followed it up with a 19-17 victory over Terrafirma.

Cavitex quartet Bong Galanza, Jorey Napoles, Tzaddy Rangel and Dominick Fajardo advanced as Pool A No. 2, benefiting from their 19-17 verdict over the Dyip in the early sessions.

San Miguel Beer, runner-up in the second leg, and regular contenders Platinum Karaoke, and Meralco matched Pioneer’s 2-0 record on their way to today’s quarterfinals.

The Beermen flaunted their top form in romps over Ginebra, 21-14, and Blackwater, 21-12, for the B1 position while Platinum stunned Leg 1 winner TNT, 22-17, and edged NorthPort in overtime, 22-21, for the C1 spot.

The Bolts, for their part, defeated Purefoods via forfeiture (lack of players) then squeaked past J&T Express on a last-gasp layup by Reymar Caduyac, 16-15, to seal D1.

Moving forward as second seeds, aside from Cavitex, were Ginebra (Pool B), TNT (Pool C) and J&T (Pool D).