Jorey Napoles steers Cavitex past Blackwater for PBA 3x3 Leg 6 title

Jorey Napoles showed up when it mattered most as the veteran cager steered Cavitex to a 20-18 win against Blackwater as the Braves ruled the Leg 3 of PBA 3x3 Season 3 Third Conference on Tuesday at the Ayala Malls Market! Market!.

The 6-foot-4 Napoles sank the last three baskets for the Braves to give his side a 19-18 lead before he sealed the deal with a free throw. He finished with 13 points to lift Cavitex while Kenneth Ighalo had four points to help the cause.

Bong Galanza and Clint Doliguez rounded out the scoring for the Kyles Lao-mentored club, which bagged their first title championship for the first time this conference after three third place finishes in the last five legs.

“Ito yung brand ng NLEX basketball,” said Napoles. 

“Kasi nung eliminations, 50-50 kami talaga. Puwede kaming ma-out kaya hinintay pa namin 'yung game ng Purefoods and MCFASolver.”

(This is the NLEX brand of basketball. During the eliminations, we were 50-50. We were in the brink of elimination that's why we still waited for the Purefoods and MCFASolver game.)

Cavitex ended the elimination round with a 1-2 card after falling to Blackwater and MCFASolver. In the playoffs, the Braves displayed resistance as they defeated Ginebra and TNT in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively.

They then set up a finals duel against Blackwater and eventually pulled off the revenge victory. 

TNT, meanwhile, settled for bronze after a 21-16 victory against Meralco in the battle for third. Prior to the final leg, TNT, the reigning six-time grand champion, was eyeing for back-to-back leg titles. 

—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News