The maiden PBA 3x3 Lakas ng Tatlo blasts off Saturday afternoon at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City with all 13 teams plunging into action in a heavy 17-game opener.
Limitless Appmasters - the brand Phoenix Super LPG is carrying in the three-a-side league - and Purefoods TJ Titans - Magnolia's 3x3 bets - open hostilities in the two-day first leg with their 2 p.m. encounter in Pool A.
Zamboanga Valientes and Platinum Karaoke - two of three guest ballclubs in the PBA 3x3 inaugurals - debut at 2:25 p.m. in another Pool A showdown.
Pool B squads Barangay Ginebra 3x3 and Sista Super Sealers (Rain or Shine) hit the halfcourt at 2:50 p.m. before Pool C's Cavitex Braves (NLEX) and guest club Pioneer Pro Tibay clash at 3:15 p.m.
TNT Tropang Giga, fresh from the Philippine Cup conquest of their five-on-five counterparts, kick off their bid in Pool A at 3:40 p.m. against Limitless.
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Launching their quests later in the day are Terrafirma 3x3 (Pool B), NorthPort (Pool C), Meralco (Pool B), and San Miguel Beer (Pool C).
The Dyip battle the Gin Kings at 4:30 p.m., the Batang Pier tangle with Pioneer at 4:55 p.m., the Bolts face Sista at 6:10 p.m. and the Beermen duel NorthPort at 6:35 p.m. in their respective first games.
The stacked PBA 3x3 opening day plays its last match at 8:40 p.m. with the single round-robin eliminations continuing Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. followed immediately by the knockout quarterfinals, semifinals and finals.
The Top 3 teams in Pool A and the Top 2 in Pools B and C will advance into the Last-8 while the third-ranked crews in Pools B and C will contest the eighth berth.
"This tournament not only aims to grow the 3x3 brand of basketball but also reach out to a new generation of PBA fans by showing this product that is fast, exciting and competitive," said PBA 3x3 chairman Richard Bachmann of Alaska.
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"Exciting times ahead and it starts now," he added.
The PBA 3x3 stakes P100,000 for the leg champion, P50,000 for the runner-up and P30,000 for the third-placer. (OL)
