Phoenix rises against NorthPort

MANILA, Philippines — Shorthanded Phoenix brought down streaking NorthPort, 97-87, to pick up its third win in seven outings in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Matthew Wright fired 28, making half of them in their fourth-quarter breakaway, as the Fuel Masters chalked up the big victory while overcoming the lack of a true-blue point guard with LA Revilla sitting out the rest of the tournament due to a fractured foot.

“Its a grindout game. With LA out of the tournament, we’re forced to play multiple positions and this takes heavily on our guards. Our remaining guards, RJ (Jazul) and (Alex) Mallari aren’t really point guards but combo guards,” said Phoenix coach Louie Alas, 

“In the first quarter alone, we had 10 turnovers precisely because of that deficiency (point guard). So, now we’re looking at a point guard in the mold of LA.”

The Batang Pier saw their four-game streak snapped for 7-2 overall, sliding out of a share of top spot.

Wright, who made four treys and posted six rebounds and six assists, was complemented by import Richard Howell (18-15), Jazul (17 markers, three assists), Jason Perkins (12) and Mallari (11-7-7).

Alas, whose team continues to miss the suspended Abueva and three other injured players Rey Guevarra, Mike Gamboa, and Jaypee Mendoza, said rebounding was a major key to victory as well as transition defense.

In the second game, Magnolia exacted revenge on Philippine Cup tormentor San Miguel via a 118-82 beatdown to streak to its fourth successive win. The Beermen slipped to 2-4.

“We were motivated, coming from our loss in Game Seven, to at leasy get back at them even if this is still the eliminations,”  said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero as his charges continued their resurgence after a 0-2 start in the tourney.

“Players exerted extra effort, energy and aggressiveness tonight. If there’s a 101 percent effort, this was it, especially on defense,” he added.

Notes: NLEX has tapped Nigerian-Canadian Olu Ashaolu as replacement for Tony Mitchell as the cellar-dwelling Road Warriors eye an early build-up for their Governors Cup campaign. The 6-foot-7 Ashaolu will be making his second tour of duty for NLEX, having suited up last year before getting sidelined by a knee injury. “We’re preparing now for the third conference. He will be our import and we’d rather bring him early, acllimatize him and make sure he’s in good shape,” said coach Yeng Guiao, whose wards have three more assignments in the mid-season tourney.

The scores:

Second Game

Phoenix 97 – Wright 28, Howell 18, Jazul 17, Perkins 12, Mallari 11, Chua 6, Intal 3, Napoles 2, Kramer 0, Marcelo 0, Wilson 0, Dennison 0.

NorthPort 87 – Tautuaa 19, Ferrer 18, Anthony 16, Ibeh 12, Bolick 11, Taha 6, Lanete 3, Cruz 2, Mercado 0, Arana 0.

Quarterscores: 19-28, 39-43, 64-51, 97-87

Second Game

Magnolia 118 – Farr 19, Barroca 17, Jalalon 16, Lee 14, Sangalang 10, Dela Rosa 8, Ramos 7, Pingris 6, Brondial 6, Melton 5, Gamalinda 4, Herndon 4, Abundo 2, Pascual 0. 

San Miguel 82 – Rhodes 20, Standhardinger 16, Lassiter 11, Cabagnot 6, Pessumal 6, Tubid 5, Fajardo 5, Nabong 4, Lanete 3, Ross 3, Vigil 2, Santos 1, Rosser 0, Zamar 0.

Quarterscores: 24-17, 52-38, 85-56, 118-82