Fuel Masters drown Batang Pier, stay alive

MANILA, Philippines — Phoenix Petroleum sizzled with the most explosive game by any team in the league in last five conferences as the Fuel Masters walloped the GlobalPort Batang Pier, 135-108, to keep their flickering playoff hopes alive in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

Eugene Phelps erupted for 37 points and completed a triple-double game with 23 rebounds and 10 assists while Matthew Wright and Jason Perkins made 24 and 13 points, respectively, to lead a strong local support as the Fuel Masters snapped a four-game losing skein and stayed in the hunt with a 4-6 win-loss card.

“It’s a breakout game for us where we started strong and managed to keep the lead to the finish,” said Phoenix coach Louie Alas.

“We’d had a number of games where we started like a house on fire only to fizzle out in the final half. Hopefully, this is the start of something big for us. Hopefully, we start to grow,” Alas also said.

Phelps and his teammates converted 48-of-87 field-goal attempts in making the biggest output in the league since TNT KaTropa blasted Phoenix, 136-124 in the 2016 Governors Cup.

The Fuel Masters exploded for 41 points in the opening quarter then put in 29 in the second, 37 in the third and 28 in the final canto in a torrid shooting that ripped GlobalPort apart and sent the Batang Pier reeling to their fifth loss against four wins.

With the outcome of the game beyond recall in the third, GlobalPort coach Pido Jarencio opted to sit down import Malcolm White in the last 15 minutes of the contest.

“It helped us keep the big lead. Most probably, they just saved Malcolm White’s energy as they’re playing back-to-back games,” said Alas.

Barangay Ginebra also fashioned out a rout later in the night, crushing Columbian Dyip, 134-107, to move up to joint sixth with GlobalPort and Magnolia at 4-5.

Columbian Dyip, meanwhile, dropped down to ninth at 4-6.

“That’s a game we had to have. It’s a must win,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.

“They jumped on us. They hit all shots early in the game and we became panicky. Then our defense settled in,” Cone added.

The scores: 

First Game

Phoenix 135 – Phelps 37, Wright 24, Perkins 13, Jazul 11, Revilla 9, Intal 9, Gamboa 9, Kramer 6, Wilson 6, Dehesa 4, Guevarra 3, Chua 2, Mendoza 2, Eriobu 0. 

GlobalPort 108 – White 24, Anthony 15, Pringle 14, Javelona 10, Pringle 9, Grey 9, Elorde 9, Guinto 8, Araña 7, Tautuaa 6, Gabayni 2, Flores 2, Nabong 1, Bulawan 0. 

Quarterscores:  41-22, 70-51, 107-77, 135-108

Second Game

Ginebra 134 – Brownlee 24, Aguilar 19, Ferrer 18, Tenorio 16, Thompson 12, Slaughter 10, Caguioa 8, Mercado 7, Devance 5, Mariano 5, Chan 4, Cruz 4, Caperal 2, Manuel 0.

Columbian 107 – Fields 30, McCarthy 17, Tubid 15, Khobuntin 14, King 14, Escoto 11, Corpuz 2, Ababou 2, Celda 2, Camson 0, Celda 0, Sara 0, Cahilig 0. 

Quarterscores: 30-29, 62-49, 97-76, 134-107