RJ Jazul heaved a sigh of relief that Phoenix Super LPG finally got one against Magnolia in their PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup semifinal battle.
The Fuel Masters absorbed close losses in the first two games of their best-of-five series. However, they solved the Hotshots’ riddle — at least for a night — in Game 3.
And that not only to saved their campaign, it also ended a lengthy losing skid against their foes.
“Actually dapat last two games pa, sa’min na dapat ‘yun. At least we got this one,” he said after their 103-85 win, Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Games 1 and 2 saw Phoenix come back from deficits, but they couldn’t close it out as their more experienced counterparts found ways to escape.
But the crew of Coach Jamike Jarin changed the narrative on Sunday. They came back from as much as 21 points down and showed how much they’ve learned from those experiences by finishing strong in the fourth quarter.
Jazul himself was instrumental in that closeout, nailing three triples in a row to cap off a 14-4 run en route to an 85-71 lead with 8:33 remaining. The Fuel Masters stayed in control before cruising to the 18-point triumph.
Aside from pushing the series to Game 4, the ball club also snapped a 10-game skid against Magnolia that dates back from the 2021 Philippine Cup.
That’s big thanks to the longest-tenured Fuel Master, who finished with 17 points on a 5-of-7 clip from beyond the arc in 26 minutes of action.
“We don’t want to go home,” said the 37-year-old Jazul, who also collected three rebounds, three assists, and a steal in the win.
“Do-or-die for us. Sabi nga ni Coach we have practice bukas. Sayang schedule namin bukas kung matalo kami ngayon,” he added.
Jazul, though, didn’t take all the spotlight to himself. Instead, he gave props to his teammates for helping seal the much-needed victory.
Aside from him, five more players scored in double figures, namely Johnathan Williams (19 points), Ken Tuffin (14 points), Javee Mocon (14 points), Sean Manganti (14 points), and Jason Perkins (13 points).
“Like what Coach said in the locker room. we’ll do it together. ‘Di lang kay J3, ‘di lang kay Jason. We’re here together. Everyone is important,” Jazul said.
