Smooth ride for Cavitex in PBA 3x3

MANILA, Philippines — Cavitex kicked off its PBA 3x3 Season 3 First Conference hat trick bid with a quarterfinals-sealing 2-0 sweep of the Leg 6 elims yesterday at the Ayala Malls Trinoma.

The Braves quartet of Jorey Napoles, Dom Fajardo, Tonino Gonzaga and Bong Galanza first stamped their class on Blackwater, 17-13, then outdueled tough TNT, 19-17, to cruise to the KO rounds.

Winner of the fourth and fifth legs, the Pool A topnotcher Braves will resume their drive for No. 3 in today’s Last-8 versus the third-ranked team from Pool B.

The Leg 3 victors Triple Giga claimed the second and last quarters berth up for grabs in Pool A with their 1-1 card, advancing on the strength of their opening 21-16 triumph over Blackwater (0-2).

Guest team Wilcon Depot and two-leg winner Barangay Ginebra each won their first two games to lead the march in Pools B and C, respectively.

Wilcon took down Leg 5 runner-up Pioneer, 18-11, then upstaged Meralco, 19-15, while the Gin Kings drubbed San Miguel Beer, 21-12, and Terrafirma, 21-15, to put a lock on tickets to the quarters with a game to spare.

Meanwhile, the Bolts routed Pioneer, 22-12, behind the 12-10 double-double of Joseph Sedurifa to secure their spot from Pool B at 2-1.

This result proved catastrophic for the Katibays, who bowed out at 0-3 even as Purefoods (1-1), their 21-20 conquerors, got a free pass to the next stage.

Pool C remains an open race with NorthPort (1-1), Terrafirma (1-2) and SMB (1-2) still contesting the remaining Last-8 berths. Their fates will be determined after the duel between the Batang Pier and the Gin Kings in the end of pool play today.