Platinum edges Cavitex for 3x3 diadem

MANILA, Philippines — Limping and all, Platinum Karaoke fought with its guts out to beat Cavitex, 17-15, in overtime for the Leg 5 plum of the PBA 3x3 Third Conference yesterday at Robinsons Las Piñas.

Yves Sazon drilled both the OT-forcing deuce and the winning two-ball as Platinum completed its fightback from 14-9 down and pulled it off despite Nico Salva playing through ankle sprain and TH Tumalip overcoming exhaustion.

The gutsy performance of Sazon, Salva, Tumalip and Brandon Bates lifted Platinum to its first victory since topping the fourth leg of the preceding Second Conference.

As it stopped the back-to-back bid of its opponents, Platinum carved its name as the fifth different leg winner of the season-ending meet after San Miguel Beer, TNT, Barangay Ginebra and the Braves themselves.

“It was a no-tomorrow game so we just left it all out on the floor,” said Bates, whose team bucked tremendous adversity on the way to the top plum and P100,000 prize.

Salva sprained his ankle during their 21-18 semifinal verdict over TNT as Tumalip suffered fatigue postgame and needed to be given supplemental oxygen prior to the finale.

“Pagod na pagod. Pero ang sarap manalo, ang sarap mag-champion,” said Tumalip.

Sazon dropped eight points while Tumalip added four, Bates three and Salva two in the clincher.

Cavitex’ Jorey Napoles (six), Bong Galanza (five), Dominick Fajardo (three) and Tzaddy Rangel (one) settled for runner-up honors worth P50,000, doomed by their failure to close out Platinum.

Meanwhile, the Tropang Giga banked on the winning layup of Samboy de Leon to turn back Meralco, 21-20,  for third place and P30,000.