Smooth Razor, Braves sweep way to Last 8

MANILA, Philippines — Blackwater and Cavitex swept their respective groups to lead the early quarterfinalists in Leg 1 of the PBA 3x3 Season 3 Third Conference yesterday at the Ayala Malls Glorietta.

The Smooth Razor clobbered Terrafirma, 20-13, then leaned on Wendell Comboy’s 17-point sizzler to whip heavily-depleted TNT, 22-7, to emerge as the topnotcher of Pool A.

Despite competing with a three-man crew composed of Gryann Mendoza, Matt Salem and Chester Saldua after Almond Vosotros and Ping Exciminiano got ill, the Triple Giga managed to advance as Pool A No. 2.

The grand slam-gunning Triple Giga (1-1) banked on their earlier 21-19 win over the Dyip (0-2) to make it today’s KO rounds.

The Braves soared to No. 1 in Pool C with 3-0 at the expense of San Miguel Beer, 21-11, Barangay Ginebra, 21-13, and Pioneer Elastoseal, 21-17.

The Gin Kings (1-1) and the Katibays (1-1) also progressed while the Beermen (0-3) got the boot.  Ginebra, 22-11 victor over SMB, and Pioneer, 21-17 winner over the Beermen, dispute second seeding in the elims windup this morning.

MCFASolver (2-0), Meralco (2-1) and Purefoods (1-1) put a lock on the three Last-8 spots of Pool B with a game to spare. With 0-3, NorthPort already bowed out regardless of the outcome of Tech Centrale-Titans pool duel today.