MANILA – Brandone Francis knocked down timely hits in the endgame as Phoenix Fuel Masters pulled off a 119-114 victory over Blackwater Bossing in the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
After seeing their double-digit lead cut to as low as 107-110 following a split free throw by Bossing’s Richard Escoto, Francis converted a step back three-pointer to extend the lead to 113-107 with 34 seconds left.
Following misses from the Bossing’s side, Francis sealed the victory with two more free throws as the Fuel Masters finally secured their first win after dropping their first seven matches.
Francis led the way for the Fuel Masters with 23 points, Ryan Roose Garcia added 20 markers, while Jason Perkins, Ricci Rivero, and Kai Ballungay contributed 19, 14, and 12 points, respectively.
“We are 1-7 right now and we are frustrated in the first seven games because almost all of the seven games, we are in it, and we are happy that we finally win it today,” said Fuel Masters head coach Michael Jay Jarin.
“I take full responsibility for the losses and I want to apologize to the players and the management, we got a win and we got over the hump, and we will definitely work hard in our next games,” he added.
George Kings finished with 32 points but was held scoreless in the fourth quarter, while Sedrick Barefield added 30 markers for the Bossing, which suffered their second consecutive defeat to drop to a 3-5 win-loss slate.
On Saturday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Scotty Hopson knocked down a go-ahead four-pointer as Converge FiberXers escaped with a 100-99 victory over Terrafirma Dyip.
Down 96-99 after two free throws by Dyip’s Kevin Ferrer with seven seconds left, Hopson eluded two Terrafirma defenders to convert the game-winning shot with 2.5 ticks remaining.
The Dyip still had a last chance to secure their first win of the conference, but Antonio Hester missed on a running basket against the defense of FiberXers’ Alec Stockton at the buzzer.
Hopson, who is playing through an injury, finished with 18 points, nine rebounds, and four assists as the FiberXers notched their second straight victory for a 4-4 win-loss slate./PN
BOX SCORE:
PHOENIX 119 – Francis 23, Garcia 20, Perkins 19, Rivero 14, Ballungay 12, Tio 7, Ular 5, Tuffin 5, Jazul 4, Soyud 3, Manganti 3, Muyang 2, Salado 2, Verano 0, Alejandro 0.
BLACKWATER 114 – King 32, Barefield 30, Kwekuteye 20, Rosario 10, Escoto 10, Ilagan 4, Chua 3, Suerte 3, David 2, Micthell 0, Casio 0.
Quarterscores: 30-29, 64-47, 90-78, 119-114.
