J&T Express guns for a back-to-back title in the PBA 3×3 when Leg 3 of the Second Conference Season 2 gets going Saturday at Robinsons Place Novaliches.
The Express finally broke through last week when they got back at tormentor TNT Tropang Giga, 21-19, to claim the championship of Leg 2.
The team of coach Ryan Monteclaro tries to give the field a new look in its bid for a second straight crown, putting veteran Marvin Hayes in the reserve list for Jeric Teng as he joins the trio of Robert Keith Datu, Robin Rono, and Leg 2 hero Joseph Sedurifa.
TNT, the Leg 1 winner, also juggled its roster which now includes Gryann Mendoza together with Lervin Flores, Rey Mark Acuno, and top gun Almond Vosotros.
Other teams shook their lineup as well as they try to break the TNT-J&T stranglehold of the current conference.
San Miguel, which failed to reach the playoffs last week, enlisted the services of big men Jammer Jamito and Chris De Chavez to go along with mainstays Jeff Manday and Ken Bono, while Purefoods added former Barangay Ginebra stalwart Mikey Cabahug to reinforce a lineup that included John Ubalde, Lander Canon, and main man Joseph Eriobu.
J&T Express opens the scheduled 12-game offering in Day 1 of hostilities, taking on Purefoods in an early Pool A match up.
Joining the Titans and Express in the group is Meralco 3×3.
TNT Tropang Giga on the other hand, leads Pool B with Terrafirma and Blackwater, while Cavitex, Platinum Karaoke, and San Miguel comprised Pool C.
Rounding up the groupings are Barangay Ginebra, Pioneer Elastoseal, and NorthPort in Pool D.
The top two teams in each group will again advance in Sunday’s knockout stage, where the top three finishers get to win cash prizes including the grand purse of P100,000 to the champion.