MANILA – Ryan Roose “RR” Garcia delivered a vintage performance as Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters cruised to a 94-78 victory over Terrafirma Dyip in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup on Wednesday night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
The former Far Eastern University Tamaraws guard flirted with triple-double with 20 points, a career-high of 10 assists, and six rebounds as the Fuel Masters improved to a 1-2 record.
“(It was) vintage RR,” said Fuel Masters assistant coach Paolo Dizon said in a post-game interview. “’Yung composure ni RR played a crucial point in our turnaround against Terrafirma.”
“Sa akin lang kasi wala si Tyler (Tio) eh kaya kailangan mag-step-up as a veteran sa team,” Garcia said. “Sa mga opportunity na ibinibigay sa akin ni coach Jamike (Jarin), kailangan ko i-grab ‘yun eh.”
Jason Perkins led the Fuel Masters with 18 points on top of seven rebounds, and five assists, Kenneth Tuffin also came through with 17 markers and nine boards, while Larry Muyang scored 13 points.
Down by five at 39-44 at the half, the Fuel Masters turned things around in the third quarter with their defensive intensity as they tied the score at 64-all heading into the final quarter.
The Fuel Masters started to pull away in the fourth quarter as they jumped to an 80-73 lead before establishing the largest lead of 17 points at 92-75 on a conversion from Garcia.
“I guess it was the defensive intensity that we wanted,” said Dizon. “So there were times that we miss on a few and the energy was not there, so I guess the guys simply locked in and played with the game plan lang.”
“During the pre-game, coach Jamike has spoken with the team that ‘We are not playing the Phoenix way.’ We played a bit of selfish basketball so kanina I think we locked in defensively, and that is the identity we want to carry from last conference,” he added.
Javi Gomez de Liano paced the Dyip with 19 points and five rebounds, Juan Miguel Tiongson added 16 markers, while Eric Camson contributed 10 points. It was Terrafirma’s second defeat in four games./PN
BOX SCORE:
PHOENIX 94 – Garcia 20, Perkins 18, Tuffin 17, Muyang 13, Daves 8, Mocon 8, Jazul 7, Rivero 3, Manganti 0, Alejandro 0, Verano 0.
TERRAFIRMA 78 – Gomez de Liano 19, Tiongson 16, Camson 10, Alolino 8, Sangalang 8, Go 4, Carino 4, Mina 3, Ramos 2, Olivario 2, Calvo 2, Cahilig 0.
Quarterscores: 19-16, 39-44, 64-64, 94-78.
