PBA 3×3 second conference Grand Finals champion Pioneer. PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines–Playing with so much zest right at the jump, Pioneer held off Sista, 12-10, to rule the PBA 3×3 Second Conference at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City on Wednesday night.
The Pro Tibay, fresh from their upset of first conference champion Limitless, took an early 9-4 lead, and then displayed steely nerves down the stretch to fend off the Super Sealers who have been their source of torment throughout the specialized tournament.
“(The players) really wanted it. I just thought, we just take care of Limitless, then let’s just see where the journey would take us. And here we are,” said coach Lester del Rosario, whose charges finally broke through after falling short in the six legs of this conference.
“We were just relishing our underdog tag. We just made sure to double, even triple our effort,” said Gian Abrigo, who led Pioneer’s balanced attack with 4 points.
Christian Rivera tossed in 4, Robin Roño and Carlo Escalembre 2 each to help Pro Tibay bag a P750,000 cash prize.
Pioneer also avenged its Leg 3 Finals heartbreak against Sista during the first conference.
Sista got the goods from Jan Jamon, who finished with 6 points. Joseph Manlangit added 2, while Jamil Gabawan and Kenneth Mocon chipped in 1 each.
Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra pulled out a 21-16 victory to salvage a third-place finish that came with a P100,000 purse.
Jollo Go had a game-high 11 points opposite Almond Vosotros’ eight, which hiked the Tropang Giga gunner’s conference total to 360 and made him back-to-back scoring champion.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial joined the revelries, and then went on to announce on national television the season-ending conference will be played in a yet-to-be-identified mall.