CAVITEX made it back-to-back in the PBA 3×3 First Conference Season 3 as it made short work of Pioneer Elastoseal, 22-10, to claim the Leg 5 title Tuesday at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay.
Former 3×3 national player Jorey Napoles and Kenneth Ighalo had seven points each for the Braves, who were in control right from the opening tip of the 10-minute final.
With Napoles and Ighalo at the firing end, Cavitex raced to a 10-2 lead and never looked back on its way to claiming a second straight-leg championship.
Dominick Fajardo and Bong Galanza each had four points for the Braves of coach Kyles Lao, who won the P100,000 prize money.
Cavitex earlier went through the wringer and survived two-time leg champion Barangay Ginebra in the semifinals, 20-19.
But they were never really in trouble come the title game against the upset-conscious Elastoseal, who arranged the showdown with Cavitex following an 18-13 win over Northport in the semis.
It was the second runner-up finish for Pioneer this conference to take home P50,000.
Gian Morido tried to carry the Elastoseal by his lonesome after finishing with a team-high eight points as last-minute entry Gian Abrigo, who replaced Enrique Caunan heading to the knockout stage, was held to just a solitary point.
Ginebra takes 3rd place
Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra made it back to the podium as it nipped Northport, 21-18, to take third place and the P30,000 cash prize.
Donald Gumaru exploded for 13 big points in leading the Kings, who were champion of Legs 1 and 2.
During the quarterfinals, Northport downed Purefoods, 17-14, Cavitex outgunned Meralco, 16-14, Pioneer nosed out Blackwater, 14-12, and Ginebra got even against TNT, 17-15.
The scores
Third place
Ginebra (21) – Gumaru 13, Salcedo 4, Cu 2, Ubalde 2.
Northport (18) – Capacio 6, Bulawan 6, Bauzon 4, Zamora 2.
Finals
Cavitex (22) – Napoles 7, Ighalo 7, Fajardo 4, Galanza 4.
Pioneer (10) – Morido 8, Abrigo 1, Mocon 1, Villamor 0.
(ai/mnm)
