Phoenix breaks through

MANILA, Philippines — Phoenix beat NorthPort to the punch in giving its new coach a maiden victory after stumbling thrice over.

Using a telling run in the second quarter as springboard, the Fuel Masters outclassed the Batang Pier, 108-97, to finally chalk one up for debutant mentor Jamike Jarin in the PBA Governors’ Cup last night at the PhilSports Arena.

Import Du’Vaughn Maxwell and ace frontliner Jayson Perkins turned in a pair of fiery 26-point performances to anchor Phoenix’ spirited bid for a breakthrough under Jarin, who took over from Topex Robinson prior to the start of the conference.

Maxwell was the big spark in the Fuel Masters’ momentum-swinging 32-21 salvo in the second canto, firing 15 in that breakaway. Perkins shot nine in the fourth to help extinguish NorthPort’s searing rally to within five.

Jarin and Co. said it’s a matter of keeping the faith despite losing to TNT (123-119), Blackwater (108-105) and San Miguel Beer (114-93) in their first three outings.

“Coach Jamike is a very positive person, a very uplifting coach. If we lose, he doesn’t go out blaming players and makes it a point to keep everyone staying positive,” said Perkins, now the franchise player of Phoenix.

“You give credit to the players and the coaches for staying positive. Yung first two games namin, we had a chance to win them. I took the blame for those and told them to keep working the hardest,” said Jarin, whose team led by 27 at one point. “So we got the win and hopefully this would lead to a winning streak.”

Skipper RJ Jazul also delivered big-time, firing 16 spiked by a five-of-seven three-point shooting clip, as did Sean Manganti, who shot 13. Jazul and Manganti combined for 12 in the payoff period and accounted for eight of Phoenix’ 14 three-pointers overall.

Later, Jamaal Franklin dished out an error-free, 25-13-15 triple-double to power rampaging Converge past skidding Rain or Shine, 112-98, and into solo leadership.

Franklin’s all-around brilliance was complemented by Justin Arana’s 21-8 and Jeron Teng’s 17-pointer as FiberXers’ raced to 4-0.

Michael Qualls, with 34 points, showed the way for ROS, which played the last 13 minutes without coach Yeng Guiao (ejected after incurring his second technical foul late in the third).