MANILA – Calvin Abueva made a triumphant return as the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters cruised to a 114-110 victory over NLEX Road Warriors in the 2020 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup at the AUF Sports Arena and Cultural Center in Pampanga last night.
Abueva, who has been out of action after being slapped with an indefinite ban 15 months ago, finished the match with 21 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists as the Fuel Masters moved up to a 4-2 win-loss slate.
Matthew Wright led the way with 28 points, including four triples, Jason Perkins added double-double 20 points and 13 rebounds while Bacolodnon center Justin Chua contributed 19 markers for Phoenix.
Down by as much as 14 points at 63-77 in the third quarter, the Fuel Masters slowly clawed their way back behind Perkins, Wright and Chua to snatch an 86-85 lead heading into the fourth.
Phoenix Super LPG widened the lead to 95-89 early in the final period with baskets from Chua and Perkins, but NLEX retaliated with a rally to regain the upperhand at 102-101 on a basket by Michael Miranda.
The Fuel Masters pulled away anew with hits from Abueva, Chua and Wright for a 112-107 edge. The Road Warriors made their last push on a triple by Negrense Raul Soyud, but two free throws by Chua sealed the win for Phoenix.
Soyud finished the match with career-high 27 points, Ilonggo Kiefer Ravena and JR Quinahan added 18 markers each while Kevin Alas and William McAloney contributed 15 and 14 markers respectively for the Road Warriors (1-5).
BOX SCORE:
PHOENIX 114 – Wright 28, Abueva 21, Perkins 20, Chua 19, Rios 10, Garcia 6, Heruela 4, Jazul 4, Intal 2, Marcelo 0, Gamboa 0.
NLEX 110 – Soyud 27, Ravena 18, Quinahan 18, Alas 15, McAloney 14, Cruz 8, Miranda 6, Semerad 2, Ayonayon 2, Ighalo 0, Varilla 0.
QUARTERSCORES:
Q1, 27-30; Q2, 60-58; Q3, 86-85; Q4, 114-110./PN
