Eugene Phelps didn’t score 50 on Sunday, but he didn’t need to.
Each and every player from the Phoenix Fuel Masters made contributions, and that led to their masterful 132-91 victory over the injury-riddled NorthPort Batang Pier for a good 2-0 start in the 2018 Governors’ Cup.
“Yeah we got the win. I don’t get bonuses for 50-point games, I get bonuses for winning,” said Phelps after the match, where he led the Fuel Masters with 30 points, 15 rebounds, and four blocks.
“So we got the win, that’s all I care about.”
Six Fuel Masters – including Phelps – finished in double figures, but it was Calvin Abueva who earned Best Player of the Games honors as he collected 12 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block in 16 minutes.
This is now the second straight game that the Beast has made a mark. In his debut last Wednesday, Abueva had 12 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists – including the game-sealing freebies – in their 113-107 win over Columbian Dyip.
So for Phelps, Abueva is a solid addition for the Fuel Masters.
“I think Calvin is a big help, you know.
“He brings the energy, that’s what we’re lacking. He brings intensity, he’s always talking,” lauded the wide-bodied 6-foot-5 forward, who is now in his fifth conference with the Fuel Masters.
Given that, Phelps hopes that Abueva and the Fuel Masters will continue to get rolling as they face a tough opponent that is the Alaska Aces – Abueva’s former team – on Wednesday, August 29, still at the Big Dome.
“We got a tough game on Wednesday, hopefully we get that win and have a three-game winning streak but we’ll see how it goes,” he said.
