MANILA – Matthew Wright hit a clutch shot as Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters defeated Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 78-77, last night at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga, in the 2021 Philippine Basketball Association’s Philippine Cup.
After missing his first 14 shots, Wright made the biggest basket of the match with his turnaround hit in the final 2.6 seconds to shatter the 76-all deadlock.
The Filipino-Canadian guard scored four points to help the Fuel Masters snap a two-game losing streak and improve to a 2-4 win-loss record. The Painters fell to 4-3.
With six minutes remaining, the Painters were comfortably ahead at 74-59, but the Fuel Masters rallied behind conversions from Jason Perkins, Ryan Roose Garcia, Chris Banchero, and Elvin Jake Pascual to tie the score at 74-all.
Garcia gave the Fuel Masters a 76-74 lead with a short jumper with 41 seconds left, but Gabe Norwood’s two-pointer tied the count for the last time at 76-all.
Perkins finished with a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds, Garcia added 18 points, and Banchero had his best game since transferring to the Fuel Masters with 14 points.
In the opening game, NLEX Road Warriors (3-2) were triumphant in their first game without Ilonggo guard Kiefer Ravena as they wallop the Alaska Aces (2-4), 84-74.
Joseph Ronald Quiahan led the Road Warriors in scoring, with 18 points. Kevin Alas dropped 17, while Ilonggo Jericho Cruz and Kenneth Ighalo tallied 15 points each.
Midway through the third quarter, trailing 52-42, the Road Warriors went on a massive scoring run behind Alas, Quiahan, and Cruz to take a 62-55 lead on a triple by Ighalo.
The Aces made one more push for a 66-64 advantage on a Jvee Casio layup, but the Road Warriors closed the gap to 84-74 on consecutive Ighalo, Cruz, and Alas baskets.
The Road Warriors snapped their two-game losing skid despite being without Ravena, currently in Japan with Shiga Lakestars in the B.League, and Anthony Semerad and Negrense center Raul Soyud, who are all injured.
BOX SCORE:
PHOENIX 78 – Perkins 18, Garcia 18, Banchero 14, Melecio 6, Jazul 5, Pascual 5, Muyang 4, Wright 4, Demusis 3, Manuel 1, Chua 0, Calisaan 0, Rios 0, Napoles 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 77 – Mocon 17, Belga 17, Torres 12, Santillan 8, Wong 6, Johnson 5, Guinto 4, Asistio 3, Norwood 3, Caracut 2, Nambatac 0, Tolentino 0, Ponferrada 0, Yap 0.
QUARTERSCORES:
15-24, 35-43, 55-67, 78-77./PN
