Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times
Photos by PBA Images

Basketball

Du’vaughn Maxwell the ‘right fit’ for Phoenix, says Topex


Du’Vaughn Maxwell is the right one for Phoenix Super LPG.

That’s according to Fuel Masters head coach Topex Robinson himself. He definitely feels pleased as the American cager proved the team right of its decision to switch imports approaching the tail-end of the PBA Governors’ Cup.

Brought in to replace Dominique Sutton, Maxwell wasted no time showing why Phoenix tapped his services. He posted 21 points and 21 rebounds to lead his side to an important 104-99 victory over Alaska on Thursday.

“In an import conference, you really have to have somebody that the locals will believe in, and Du’Vaughn was really the right fit for us,” the youthful bench tactician offered moments after the match at SMART Araneta Coliseum.

A globetrotting pro since 2014, Maxwell is Phoenix’s third import. The club had to search for a new reinforcement when Paul Harris wasn’t recovering as fast as expected from his hamstring injury. That led to Sutton’s return to the league.

Sutton, however, could not get the Ws for the Fuel Masters, winning just once in the four games he saw action. The former Air21 and GlobalPort import averaged just 16.3 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.0 steals.

2021-22-PBA-Governors-Cup-Northport-vs-Phoenix-Dominique-Sutton Du'vaughn Maxwell the 'right fit' for Phoenix, says Topex Basketball News PBA  - philippine sports news

Photo by PBA Images

Robinson in particular liked the energy Maxwell provided, as evidenced in the 42 minutes he played against the Aces. He was active on the boards and cleanups, and was defending well, too.

Thus the 20-20 outing, on top of three assists and two blocks.

Maxwell also showed that he can come through in the endgame. He made the big and-one play off a pick-and-roll set with 20.6 seconds left. That threw a wrench to Alaska’s comeback bid after falling by 14 early in the fourth.

#ReadMore  How the PBA team caps ended up in draftees' homes

“He brought so much energy to us,” lauded the former cager turned mentor.

“I think what he brought to us was, again, solid defense on the paint. He’s making smart moves defensively, down the stretch, he was making shots.”

Thanks to Maxwell’s help, Phoenix earned the badly-needed victory. Not only did it snap the team’s three-game losing skid, but it also kept them very much in the thick of the fight for a quarterfinal spot with a 5-5 record.

Now, the Fuel Masters are definitely hoping to see something similar to that from their new import, as they are about to meet Meralco on Friday in a match so crucial for their aspirations of making it to the next round.

All PBA games stream live on GigaPlay. Download it now on Android or IOS.

The second game of each playdate is also livestreamed on SMART Sports.

Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.


You May Also Like

Basketball

National University found a familiar comfort at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion. Ten days ago, NU stunned the UP Fighting Maroons at the same venue...

Basketball

Topex Robinson shrugged off the volatile reactions he received during De La Salle University’s 77-66 victory over fellow championship contender University of the Philippines...

Basketball

Defending champions De La Salle Green Archers continued their dominance over the University of the Philippines, defeating the Fighting Maroons 77-66 to secure the...

Basketball

While De La Salle University emerged victorious in its first-round encounter with archrival University of the Philippines, securing a commanding 68-56 win on October...

Basketball

Even with Kevin Quiambao struggling, De La Salle University found a way to defeat Far Eastern University, 58-53, in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate...

ADMU

The rivalry between Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University will always be a crowd-drawer in the UAAP. However, the latest installment...

Basketball

De La Salle University will always cherish the memories of Archers who shone brightly against archrival Ateneo de Manila University. Legends like Joseph Yeo...

ADMU

Kevin Quiambao reset his career-high with 33 points as De La Salle University asserted its dominance over rival Ateneo de Manila University, 80-65, marking...

Advertisement