EVEN without top gunner Almond Vosotros, TNT proved to be an unstoppable force in the PBA 3×3.

The Vosotros-less Triple Giga roared to the Season 3 Second Conference Leg 1 summit via an pulsating 18-16 clincher over finals foe Cavitex yesterday at the Ayala Malls Circuit in Makati.

Gryann Mendoza, Samboy de Leon, Ping Exciminiano and new guy Matt Salem rose to the challenge and went on an undefeated run over six games in the two-day stop to keep TNT’s winning tradition going.

Mr. Mendoza and Company gave the franchise its 14th leg honors overall in the three-year-old league, doing this with Mr. Vosotros serving as reserve for the two-day meet and cheering them on from among the crowd. Big man Lervin Flores, a regular part of TNT’s previous successes, was also not around this time as he joined the Tropang Giga in the 5-on-5 play.

It was Mr. Mendoza who primarily took the scoring cudgels in this conquest. He fired eight in the finale, capped by three clutch layups that helped TNT to a 17-14 cushion with 19.9 seconds left.

Mr. De Leon added five, including a split free throw that gave the Triple Giga more breathing room, 18-16, after Tonino Gonzaga pulled Cavitex to within one.

Mr. Salem also shot five, highlighted by a pair of putbacks that aided TNT in taking a 13-8 tear early on, en route to his PBA 3×3 breakthrough.

Mr. Exciminiano went scoreless but produced three steals in the TNT triumph worth P100,000.

Mr. Gonzaga rifled in a game-high nine for Cavitex but missed a potential deuce at the buzzer. The Braves finished runner-up to TNT three months after their loss in their duel for the First Conference championship, earning P50,000 for this placing.

Meanwhile, Meralco joined the two in the podium after beating league newcomer MCFASolver in the battle for bronze, 21-13. The Bolts netted P30,000. — Olmin Leyba

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