MANILA – Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters returned to their winning ways in the 2023-2024 PBA Commissioner’s Cup after a 93-83 beating of the Meralco Bolts last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Jason Perkins spearheaded the offense with 22 points, including four three-point conversions, to go with eight rebounds, while Johnathan Williams III added a double-double of 19 points and 15 rebounds for Phoenix.
Christian Tyler Tio also made his presence felt for the Fuel Masters with 15 markers, while Rafael Joey Jazul connected three outside shot to end up with 13 markers.
With an 8-2 win-loss slate, the Fuel Masters has moved closer to securing a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals with still a game left in their schedule against TNT Tropang Giga on Sunday.
The Fuel Masters were on fire early behind Williams, Tio and Javee Mocon as they build a 11-2 lead. It grew further to 31-16 later in the first quarter behind conversions from Jazul and Perkins.
Phoenix maintained a 48-34 lead midway through the second quarter after three-pointers from Perkins and Ricci Rivero, but Meralco answered with their own run to cut the deficit to 47-54 at the half.
The Bolts went on to take the lead at 55-54 early in the third canto via a Chris Banchero basket, but the Fuel Masters relied on inside connections by Perkins and Williams to establish a 78-66 lead.
Meralco threatened to claw its way back several times in the final quarter but Phoenix had their answers from Williams, Perkins, and Tio to secure the victory.
Shonn Miller top-scored with 19 points, Banchero added 15 markers, while Chris Newsome and Kier John Quinto contributed 13 and 10 markers, respectively, for the Bolts.
With a 7-3 record, the Bolts still have a shot at securing a twice-to-beat incentive in round-of-8 with still a game left in their schedule./PN
BOX SCORE:
PHOENIX 93 – Perkins 22, Williams 19, Tio 15, Jazul 13, Tuffin 6, Mocon 5, Rivero 5, Alejandro 4, Verano 2, Manganti 2, Camacho 0, Soyud 0, Garcia 0.
MERALCO 83 – Miller 19, Banchero 15, Newsome 13, Quinto 10, Black 8, Almazan 8, Rios 5, Hodge 5, Pascual 0, Maliksi 0, Bates 0, Caram 0.
QUARTERS: 31-19, 54-47, 78-66, 93-83.
