Phoenix shot the lights out as it added to the struggles of an undermanned NLEX, 112-77, to remain on track in the quarterfinal race of the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup, Saturday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
The Fuel Masters pulled away for good in the third quarter mainly behind their torrid shooting from deep. They eventually with 17 three-pointers en route to a strong bounce-back from a 107-93 loss to Magnolia last April 14.
“We just found the open man,” said head coach Jamike Jarin. “We talked about it previously. We moved the ball very well and we had some great shots going into this game. I’m just happy that we were able to convert.”
More importantly, the crew improved to 3-5 in the team standings, keeping themselves very much in the hunt for an outright trip to the first round of the playoffs – which they hope to accomplish to avoid further complications.
“We really needed this win because we can’t go down 2-6,” said Jarin, who hopes for his team to sweep their remaining elimination round assignments versus TNT (April 24), Meralco (April 26), and Blackwater (May 4).
Veteran guard RJ Jazul bannered Phoenix’s balanced attack with 19 points on six triples. Kenneth Tuffin went 3-of-3 from downtown and finished with 17 points, together with seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
JJay Alejandro made 16 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Kent Salado supplied 11 points and eight assists, while Jason Perkins added 10 points and eight rebounds.
Four of the five starters finished in double figures.
Phoenix shot 56-percent from the field and won the battle of the boards, 52-44 – 40 of which they collected from the defensive end.
And they epitomized hustle on the way to posting their third-biggest win margin in franchise history.
Jarin’s wards simply took advantage of NLEX missing the services of Michael Miranda due to back problems – quite a downer after he dropped 17 points in their narrow loss to TNT in Candon, Ilocos Sur last April 13.
But aside from his absence, making matters worse for the Road Warriors were their terrible shooting from the field, where they went just 26-of-88.
They actually had a good start, 8-2, but their foes got going not long after, to the point that the latter already built a 48-28 lead during the second period.
NLEX did chop the gap to eight, 54-46, early in the third, but they suddenly went cold. Phoenix, meanwhile, got its groove back as Salado, Alejandro, and Perkins joined hands for a 9-0 run to make it 63-46, restoring order.
Enoch Valdez top-scored for the Road Warriors with 16 points and nine rebounds, while Jhan Nermal had 12 points.
The quartet of Robert Bolick, Baser Amer, Dom Fajardo, and Tony Semerad added 11 apiece in the loss.
NLEX, who fell to fourth with a 5-3 card, will try to arrest its two-game skid against San Miguel on April 28, Sunday, 6:15 PM at the Philspots Arena.
The Scores:
Phoenix 112 – Jazul 19, Tuffin 17, Alehandro 16, Salado 11, Perkins 10, Camacho 8, Rivero 8, Mocon 6, Garcia 6, Daves 3, Verano 3, Muyang 3, Lalata 2, Soyud 0
NLEX 77 – Valdez 16, Nermal 12, Bolick 11, Amer 11, Semerad 11, Fajardo 11, Herndon 3, Anthony 1, Napoles 1, Pascual 0, Nieto 0, Pascual 0, Rodger 0
Quarterscores: 24-17, 51-39, 79-62, 112-77.
