MANILA – Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters recovered from a flat start to score a 116-94 domination over TerraFirma Dyip in the 2020 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup at the AUF Sports Arena and Cultural Center in Pampanga on Tuesday.
Matthew Wright tallied 33 points, including six three-point conversions while RJ Jazul chipped in conference-best 16 markers with four outside hits, as the Fuel Masters improved to a 5-3 win-loss slate.
Brian Heruela and Jason Perkins contributed 14 markers each, Calvin Abueva supplied triple-double 12 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists while Bacolodnon Justin Chua ended up with 10 marks for Phoenix.
Down by as much as 11 points in the second quarter, the Fuel Masters slowly clawed their way back behind outside conversions from Wright, Jazul and Heruela to take a 59-55 halftime lead.
Phoenix Super LPG continued to take control of the game in the second half behind inside conversions from Abueva and Perkins as the lead reached at 112-83 on a triple by Wright.
Jaymar Perez finished with 32 points and nine rebounds while Juan Miguel Tiongson and Eric Camson added 15 and 11 markers respectively as the Dyip remained winless after six matches.
In PBA’s first game, Chris Ross came up with crucial baskets in overtime as defending champions San Miguel Beermen escaped with a 90-88 victory over Blackwater Elite. The Beermen rises to 5-2 while the Elite dropped to 2-4.
Down 84-88 in the early minutes of overtime, Ross scored on a layup, drained a free throw and made another layup to surge the Beermen on top at 89-88 with over a minute left.
The Elite had several opportunities to take the lead, but misfired its shots. SMB’s Von Pessumal split his free throws to make it 90-88 and Blackwater’s Chris Michael Tolomia failed on his three-point try in the final buzzer.
Ross finished the match with eight points and eight rebounds while Moala Tautuaa tallied double-double 26 points and 14 rebounds for the Beermen. Eduardo Daquioag paced the Elite with 20 points.
BOX SCORE:
PHOENIX 116 – Wright 33, Jazul 16, Heruela 14, Perkins 14, Abueva 12, Chua 10, Mallari 6, Intal 4, Garcia 3, Rios 2, Napoles 2, Marcelo 0, Gamboa 0.
TERRAFIRMA 94 – Perez 32, Tiongson 15, Camson 11, Ramos 9, Adams 6, Gabayni 5, Cahilig 4, Balagasay 4, McCarthy 3, Batiller 3, Celda 2, Calvo 0, Khobuntin 0, Faundo 0, Agovida 0.
QUARTERSCORES:
Q1, 23-26; Q2, 59-55; Q3, 86-71; Q4, 116-94./PN
