Afril Bernardino stamps class in Women’s PBA 3×3

Afril Bernardino and the Philippine Navy-Go for Gold celebrate after their thrilling win over Uratex in the Women’s PBA 3×3.–PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines–Philippine Navy-Go For Gold dealt Uratex its first loss in the Women’s PBA 3×3 Invitational behind a dramatic 18-17 comeback win Monday at the Ayala Malls Market Market.

The Lady Sailors rallied behind the crucial plays of Afril Bernardino and Marizze Andrea Tongco to pull off the victory in the battle between unbeaten teams.

Bernardino, the Gilas Pilipinas Women star, hit the game-winner at the buzzer that capped her team’s fightback after being down by three late.

Tongco led Navy with seven points, including a deuce that cut the deficit to one, before Bernardino, who added six, knotted the count at 17. The duo combined for the Lady Sailors’ last seven points.

It was a heartbreaking loss for Uratex, which blew a six-point lead and had a crucial turnover that led to Bernardino’s buzzer-beater.

Afril Bernardino.–PBA IMAGES

Later in the day, the 27-year-old Bernardino continued her torrid play but her eight-point effort went down the drain after Gilas-A escaped Navy, 15-13, in overtime.

Camille Clarin sank a pair of free throws in extra time to give Gilas-A the victory.

The loss sent Navy into a first-place tie with Uratex. Both the Lady Sailors and the Dream are already assured of the top two spots in the crossover semifinals set on February 18 at Ayala Malls Glorietta.

Gilas-A, Gilas-B, and Angelis Resort are all tied for third to fifth places in the standings with similar 2-3 records, with the tiebreaker being applied to determine the last two teams which will make the semifinals.

Angelis Resort squandered a golden opportunity to seal an outright semifinals berth after falling to Philippine Air Force, 19-18.