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BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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February 8, 2018
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Ginebra sustains lead, downs Kia
MANILA – Doug Kramer drained the game-winning basket for Phoenix Fuel Masters to prevail over TNT KaTropa 74-72 in the PBA Philippine Cup last night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
With the scores tied at 72-all, Fuel Masters snatched the 74-72 lead on a one-hander basket by Kramer before completing its come-from-behind triumph with a tough defense in the final three seconds.
Matthew Wright posted 16 points while Negrense Jeffrei Chan and Angelo Alolino added 11 and 10 points, respectively, for Fuel Masters (4-4).
TNT lost the services of Jeth Troy Rosario in the fourth quarter after his bad fall on a rebound play.
Rosario, a member of the Gilas Pilipinas team that will compete in the upcoming FIBA World Cup Qualifier, was removed from the court on a stretcher and rushed to the Makati Medical Center.
Trailing by as much as 13 points in the opening half, Fuel Masters began its move in the third on conversions from Jason Perkins and Chan to come to within 56-61 heading into the fourth.
Fuel Masters pulled to within 62-63 early in the fourth on baskets from Wright. TNT increased its lead anew 67-62 on hits from Kelly Williams and Moala Tautuaa but Phoenix quickly answered to take the 68-67 lead.
KaTropa last tasted the lead 72-69 on back-to-back conversions from Williams and Roger Pogoy before Fuel Masters forced a deadlock 72-all on a Wright trey.
Semerad top-scored with 12 points while Pogoy added 10 markers for KaTropa (4-4).
In the following game, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings made sure to post a huge lead this time as it vented its ire on Kia 103-77 to regain its winning ways.
Coming off an 81-78 loss to NLEX Road Warriors in a game where they gave up a 14-point third-quarter lead, Kings this time built another early cushion that ballooned in the second quarter – and held on to it until the final buzzer.
Greg Slaughter dominated the paint while Scottie Thompson flirted with a triple-double as Kings improved to 4-4 and handed Picanto its seventh loss in eight games.
“It has been a struggle for us but [we hope] this is the game that turns us around,” Kings coach Tim Cone said. (With SPIN.ph/PN)
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