Purefoods TJ Titans and Platinum Karaoke kicked off their campaign in the PBA 3×3 Lakas Ng Tatlo on a high note by turning back their respective opponents Saturday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
The Titans held off Limitless Appmasters, 21-9, in the first of a heavy, 17-game schedule on the first day of the tournament’s maiden leg.
Val Acuna had eight points and Joseph Eriobu with six in leading the charge for the Titans.
Platinum Karaoke later joined Purefoods on top of Pool A after routing fellow guest team Zamboanga Valientes, 21-7.
Chris De Chavez topscored with 13 points and JR Alabanza with six in the runaway win that underscored Platinum Karaoke’s tag as the team to beat in the tournament.
The separate win put Purefoods and Platinum in the early lead on top of Pool A and on track of earning spots in Sunday’s knockout stage.
TnT Tropang Giga later made it a three-way tie for the lead in Pool A with a 21-1 win over Limitless, behind the 12 points of Almond Vosotros.
The Appmasters fell to their second straight loss.
In Pool B action, Barangay Ginebra also got off to a fast start behind the guns of Denice Villamor to down Sista Super Sealers, 21-16.
Villamor finished with nine points for the Kings, who also got six from Jolo Go and four from Mikey Cabahug.
Other games scheduled in the opener are still being played as of presstime.
The eliminations resume Sunday with five more games on board prior to the knockout stage.
The top three teams in Pool A and the two best teams in Pools B and C, will advance to the playoffs.
The playoffs kick off with the no. 3 team in Pool B clashing with the no. 3 team in Pool C to determine the eighth and final quarterfinals slot.
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