Phoenix is still unbeaten, but not without some serious challenge.
The Fuel Masters banked on a pivotal 9-0 run down the stretch to escape pesky NLEX, 83-82, and win their fifth straight game in the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City last night.
Phoenix’s triumvirate of Matthew Wright, forwards Calvin Abueva and Jason Perkins, who each had a double-double, once again got the job done for the Fuel Masters.
Wright had a complete outing, scoring a game-high 17 points with five rebounds and six assists, while Perkins and Abueva almost had identical numbers, with the former producing 14 markers and 11 boards and the latter with 13 and 11 across his name.
Trailing, 74-77, midway in the fourth, Phoenix shifted gears and unleashed a game-turning 9-0 run to take a key 83-77 spread with 2:47 remaining after Wright’s fadeaway jumper.
The Road Warriors fought back to make it interesting in the final minute as consecutive baskets from Bong Galanza and Philip Paniamogan inched them to within one, 82-83.
However, Poy Erram botched a potential game-tying lay-up and Galanza’s last-second heap from downtown didn’t find its mark, allowing Phoenix to escape with the hard-fought win.
Phoenix remained on top with an improved 5-0 slate, while NLEX had its two-game winning streak snapped, falling to 2-4, back to the lower echelon.
In its element early on, Phoenix raced to a 17-point advantage, 32-15, after a 22-7 blitz bridging the first two quarters.
Not bending right away, NLEX regrouped and finished the first half strongly, inching its way back instantly to cut its deficit to just a single point, 44-45, at the half, making it anyone’s game heading to the second half.
With momentum on its side, the Road Warriors continued their charge and uncorked a 12-0 blast to start the second half and open up their own double-digit lead, 56-45, at the 9-minute mark of the third frame.
The Fuel Masters kept the trend and countered, trimming their deficit to three, 67-70, going to the final 12 minutes of action to crawl themselves back into it and set up a wild finish in the fourth.
The Road Warriors drew a game-high 14 points from JR Quinahan.
However, their 21 turnovers didn’t help their cause, especially in crunch time.
The scores:
PHOENIX 83 – Wright 17, Perkins 14, Abueva 13, Mendoza 8, Jazul 8, Chua 6, Mallari 6, Revilla 3, Kramer 2, Marcelo 2, Napoles 2, Dennison 2, Gamboa 0.
NLEX 82 – Quinahan 14, Galanza 12, Erram 11, Fonacier 9, Baguio 9, Lao 8, Ighalo 6, Porter 6, Paniamogan 5, Taulava 2, Tiongson 0, Magat 0, Tallo 0.
Quarter scores: 24-12, 45-44, 67-70, 83-82.
