The Phoenix Fuel Masters had just put life into their flatlining 2018 Philippine Cup playoff aspirations as the survived a major GlobalPort Batang Pier end-game rally, 104-100, Friday evening at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Phoenix though needs Ginebra to lose to clinch a spot in the quarterfinals. The Gin Kings are playing Rain or Shine as of presstime. Otherwise, they will have to face TNT this Sunday, March 4, for the final playoff ticket.
GlobalPort, meanwhile, is heading into the next round despite the loss, with their placing yet to be determined.
“Good thing we had a huge lead because we don’t know how to finish until now. Kung yung tatlong possession namin nung mga nakaraang game maayos, baka ‘di kami dadaan sa ganitong sitwasyon,” said Phoenix head coach Louie Alas. “Now we’re praying na manalo ang Rain or Shine.”
Sharpshooter Matthew Wright was aggressive for Phoenix, leading the Fuel Masters with 32 points — 22 in the first half — on top of six assists and five rebounds. Jeff Chan fired 18 markers with five boards and five dimes.
The Fuel Masters had the Batang Pier’s number right from the get-go, when they raised the curtains of the bout with a fiery 22-9 spree. That lead went up to as high as 31, 66-35, in the opening moments of the third canto.
GlobalPort, however, came back come the payoff period. Down 19 entering the said frame, the Batang Pier were able to slice it to as thin as four, 98-102, thanks to baskets from Stanley Pringle and Terrence Romeo with 26 ticks left.
But the Fuel Masters were able to survive that hijack. A Jeff Chan split with 22 seconds to go widened the gap, 103-98, and missed opportunities by Yousef Taha and Nico Elorde helped Phoenix get away with the needed win.
Backcourt partners RJ Jazul and Gelo Alolino had 10 points apiece for Phoenix, with the former adding seven assists.
The returning Romeo, who has played his first game since September of last year, top-billed for the Batang Pier with 20 markers. Sean Anthony filled up the stat sheet with 17 points, eight boards, five assists, two steals, and three blocks.
Pringle finished with a double-double of 16 markers and 10 assists with six caroms and three steals.
GlobalPort played the majority of the match without forward Kelly Nabong, who got ejected with 2:39 left in the second frame as he was whistled for two technical fouls — disrespecting an official and use of profane language.
The Scores:
Phoenix 104 – Wright 32, Chan 18, Alolino 10, Jazul 10, Wilson 9, Kramer 8, Perkins 7, Eriobu 4, Mendoza 4, Intal 2, Cortes 0, Guevarra 0
GlobalPort 100 – Romeo 20, Anthony 17, Pringle 16, Taha 12, Elorde 12, Grey 9, Gabayni 7, Guinto 6, Flores 1, Sargent 0, Juico 0, Teng 0, Nabong 0
Quarterscores: 32-16, 63-45, 86-67, 104-100
