After losing a close one to NLEX on Friday evening in Laguna, which ended the Road Warriors’ three-game losing skid, Matthew Wright stressed that it was their defense that had cost it for him and the Phoenix Fuel Masters.
The Fuel Masters had failed to neutralize the Road Warriors in overtime after chopping down a 10-point, 101-91 deficit with less than three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter to force extra five minutes of game time.
NLEX outscored Phoenix 14-6 from a 104-all knot to mount a 118-110 lead with less than a minute left to play, which paved the way for the 120-115 victory.
“To be honest, in overtime, we’re gonna beat them. But they came out with, like, three straight threes? And in an overtime game, you gotta get stops,” lamented the Filipino-Canadian sniper, whose 31-point outing went for naught.
“Usually the first team that scores in overtime has the big advantage mentally… I just think that offensively, we have no problems. Defensively, we were very poor on a couple of possessions.”
Phoenix have dropped to 2-2 this 2018 Commissioner’s Cup, a record that shows the Fuel Masters are having a shaky conference. And for Wright, consistency on defense is what they need to sail smoothly.
“We practice defense everyday, it’s like we go out to the court and sometimes forget. So we just have to consistent,” the second-year pro stressed.
“That’s one of the tags for a good team, just consistency. We’re not 100 percent there yet, but we have pieces.”
Phoenix’s next match is against the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, but they have the luxury of rest, as the game is scheduled for May 20. And for Wright, that should be ample time for them to regain their worn-out bearings.
“Just rest, man,” said the 6-foot-4 Gilas Pilipinas stalwart.
“I can speak for myself and a couple of other guys. We play tired, we log a lot of minutes — I’m sure you know the style of game we play, with a lot of pressure.”
