Matthew Wright’s game-tying triple and a game-winning assist in the final moments capped the Phoenix Fuel Masters’ rally against the TNT Katropa to take a 74-72 win, Wednesday evening at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Filipino-Canadian sniper made a trey at the 44.2-second mark to make it 72-all, and dished a key feed to a rolling Doug Kramer with just three ticks left, to help the Fuel Masters complete the comeback from 13 points down early.
“Same play yun sa previous play ni Matt na three points,” said coach Louie Alas. “But I told Matt na they will stay home on you, so you have to read kung anong depensa. Bini-blitz kasi siya eh. So good thing pag-blitz sa kanya, pick and pop.
“[It was a] Good play by Matt,” pointed out the soft-spoken bench strategist. “Desisyon niya yun. Siya yung first option but I said to Matt: ‘Kung ido-double ka, look for Doug kasi si Doug talaga ang malilibre doon eh.”
Wright led Phoenix with 16 points on 5-of-13 shooting along with five rebounds, two assists, and three steals. Fellow shooter Jeff Chan supplied 11 points, six boards, and six dimes, while Gelo Alolino had 10 markers and five caroms.
TNT actually had chances to weather Phoenix’s storm. They had already regained the upper hand with 1:42 left by scoring four straight points from a 68-69 deficit, 72-69, thanks to baskets by Kelly Williams and Roger Pogoy.
But then the breaks favored the Fuel Masters. Jayson Castro’s floater — that could have helped TNT snatch the lead once more after Wright’s tying triple — badly missed, and moments later, Kramer’s game-winner took place.
Anthony Semerad led TNT with 12 points, while Pogoy added 10 points on 12 shots and five rebounds. Castro only finished with nine markers on 3-of-11 shooting, but made up for it with six boards, five assists, a steal, and a block.
Adding insult to TNT’s injury was the exit of forward Troy Rosario, who had to be taken out of the venue on a stretcher after falling face first to the ground — busting his chin in the process — in the opening seconds of the payoff period.
Phoenix will look to sustain momentum versus the Meralco Bolts next Wednesday, February 14, at 4:30 PM, while TNT will next face the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel on Sunday, February 11, at 6:45 PM. Both games will be at SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Scores:
Phoenix 74 – Wright 16, Chan 11, Alolino 10, Perkins 8, Kramer 8, Wilson 8, Jazul 5, Chua 4, Mendoza 4, Revilla 0, Intal 0, Eriobu 0, Cortes 0, Dehesa 0
TNT 72 – Semerad 12, Pogoy 10, Tautuaa 9, Castro 9, Williams 8, Reyes 5, Tamsi 5, Carey 4, Rosario 4, Garcia 3, Torres 3
Quarterscores: 20-24, 30-40, 56-61, 74-72
