PBA Media Bureau
The Phoenix Fuel Masters had to put out a fire in the second half after Star rallied back from 20 points down but still clinched a comfortable 106-93 win at the end of their Oppo PBA Governors’ Cup clash on Friday at SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
Import Eugene Phelps had a big night, scoring 45 points and grabbing 17 rebounds for Phoenix, which settled in sixth place with a 4-4 record.
Willy Wilson also had a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds while Cyrus Baguio and Ronjay Buenafe chipped in with 11 markers each.
Star mounted a big 19-0 run in the second half but could not put an end to their continuing struggles as they lost a fifth consecutive game and dropped to 1-7 this conference.
Phoenix got off to a terrific start to the game. Their imports carried the load early, with Phelps and Asian import Lee Gwan Hee combining to score the team’s first 14 points in the opening period.
The locals got into it late in the first, though, with Baguio, Wilson and Josh Urbiztondo knocking down three-pointers as they seized a 13-point lead, 32-19, at the end of the quarter.
Star put up a tougher stand in the second quarter but Phoenix still entered the break leading by nine, 56-47, led by Phelps’ 24 points.
The Fuel Masters looked like they would run away with the game in the third as Buenafe and Mark Cruz began knocking shots down from long range. Phelps gave the team a 20-point lead, 77-57, after blocking a shot and running the floor for a transition basket.
But the Hotshots turned things around in a big way as they rattled off 15 unanswered points to close the third and opened the final period with back-to-back baskets from Mark Barroca and import Joel Wright, who dunked the ball to bring Star within one, 77-76.
But some key baskets from Baguio and Phelps, as well as a timely three-pointer from Simon Enciso, allowed Phoenix to push the lead back up to double figures, 98-88, late in the game. - Interaskyon
No comments:
Post a Comment