Barangay Ginebra outdueled Meralco in a thrilling clash for the PBA 3×3 Season 3 Leg 2 title, 19-17, on Tuesday at Ayala Malls Circuit.
Ralph Cu knocked down the game-winning two-pointer as Ginebra came back from a 6-10 deficit and eventually forced Meralco to a 17-17 tie on Donald Gumaru’s buzzer-beating reverse layup in regulation.
Kim Aurin led the Kings with eight, including two successive buckets that momentarily gave Ginebra a 14-13 lead.
Cu shot six markers to go with five rebounds and four assists, while Ralph Salcedo added three, and Gumaru chipped in two markers and two dimes.
It was Ginebra’s second title after reigning last week in the opening leg.
The victory was worth P100,000.
In the previous leg, the Kings leaned on Gumaru’s marginal deuce for a 19-17 OT squeaker against San Miguel Beer.
“Mahirap mag-back-to-back pero dahil sa hard work at sacrifices namin during the break, nakuha namin,” said Salcedo, whose group gets extra workouts in playing with the Gin Kings’ 5-on-5 team in the PBA on Tour.
Ginebra now has three leg victories to add to its collection, counting its breakthrough in the Season 2 Third Conference Leg 3.
Meralco’s Alfred Batino, Joseph Sedurifa, Jeff Manday, and Bryan Santos settled for second place. They won the P50,000 prize.
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