All eyes on Kings

Teams are out to deny Barangay Ginebra back-to-back championships in Season 2 of the PBA 3x3 Third Conference on Saturday, Feb. 4, at Robinsons Novaliches.

Contenders TNT, Cavitex, and San Miguel are parading new-look rosters for Leg 4 of the tournament in a bid to keep up with the Kings, who finally broke through a week ago behind a thrilling 20-19 overtime win over Platinum Karaoke to clinch their first-ever leg championship.

The Tropang Giga, winner of Leg 2 but was booted out of the quarterfinals the last time, reactivated Ping Exciminiano and Luis Villegas to go with the duo of Samboy De Leon and Almond Vosotros as big man Lervin Flores and Gryann Mendoza take a rest.

Opening leg winner San Miguel, on the other hand, put big man Ken Bono on the reserve list, and will make do with the quartet of Tonino Gonzaga, Dariel Bayla, Leodi De Vera, and James Mangahas after failing to reach the knockout stage of Leg 3.

And the Braves? They’re bringing back former Gilas special draftee Tzaddy Rangel in lieu of Marion Magat.

But the Kings are raring to win a second straight time and claim anew the top purse of ₱100,000 as coach Kirk Collier retains the same roster of Kim Aurin, Donald Gumaru, Ralph Salcedo, and Raphael Cu for Friday’s pool play at Robinsons Novaliches.

The rest of the field remained status quo, too, as the race for a place in the last grand finale of the season heats up midway into the six-leg meet.

Barangay Ginebra has drawn Pioneer Elastoseal and Purefoods in Pool A, Pool B has Platinum Karaoke, Terrafirma, and Blackwater, Pool C its Meralco, Cavitex, and San Miguel, while J&T, TNT, and NorthPort complete Pool D.