MANILA – Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters thwarted TNT Tropang Giga’s uprising, 110-103, in Game 2 of their 2020 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup semifinals at the AUF Sports Arena and Cultural Center in Pampanga last night.
Jason Perkins bucked foul trouble to finish with 21 points while Calvin Abueva added double-double 20 points and 15 rebounds as the Fuel Masters leveled their best-of-five semifinals series at 1-1.
Bacolodnon Justin Chua tallied 18 points to go along with eight rebounds while RJ Jazul, Ryan Roose Garcia and Brian Heruela also ended up double figures 16, 12 and 10 markers respectively for Phoenix.
Comfortably ahead at 60-45 entering the second half, the Fuel Masters are threatened by Tropang Giga’s several runs even coming to as close as 72-75 before coming up with hits from Abueva and Alex Mallari to stay afloat at 86-80.
Tropang Giga continued their run in the fourth period until they took a 92-90 lead via a basket by Jeth Troy Rosario, but the Fuel Masters responded with hits from Abueva, Mallari and Perkins to regain the lead at 98-92.
TNT made its last push at 95-98 on a triple by Simon Enciso, but Perkins converted a three-point play, drained two free throws and hit a layup followed by another from Garcia for a 107-97 advantage.
Bobby Ray Parks Jr. finished the match with 41 points, Enciso added 14 markers while Roger Pogoy contributed 13 points for the Tropang Giga.
In PBA’s first game, Meralco Bolts used a strong third quarter push as they cruised to a 95-77 triumph over Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings to level their semifinals series at 1-1.
Down 42-55 at the onset of the third quarter, the Bolts leaned on offense by Allein Maliksi, Chris Newsome and Clifford Hodge for a 61-60 edge before widening it to 65-61 on back-to-back hits by Raymond Almazan.
The Bolts continued their run in the fourth period for a 77-67 advantage on baskets from Maliksi and Bacolodnon Reynel Hugnatan before building their largest edge at 91-70 on a two-pointer by Newsome.
Newsome finished the match with 16 points, six assists and four rebounds while Maliksi and Kier John Quinto had 14 each for the Bolts. Japeth Aguilar top-scored for the Kings with 17 points.
BOX SCORE:
PHOENIX 110 – Perkins 21, Abueva 20, Chua 18, Jazul 16, Garcia 12, Heruela 10, Mallari 9, Wright 2, Rios 2, Gamboa 0, Intal 0, Napoles 0, Marcelo 0.
TNT 103 – Parks 41, Enciso 14, Pogoy 13, Erram 10, Rosario 10, Castro 9, Washington 4, Reyes 2, Carey 0, Montalbo 0, Semerad 0.
QUARTERSCORES:
Q1, 28-27; Q2, 60-45; Q3, 86-80; Q4, 110-103./PN
