Tyler Tio and Raul Soyud saved Phoenix Super LPG from a massive collapse against San Miguel, 106-101, for a triumphant start to their PBA On Tour campaign, Wednesday night at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
The incoming sophomore nailed the go-ahead trey with 40.5 seconds to go, before the veteran bruiser layed it in off a roll shortly after to give the Fuel Masters enough room after squandering a 26-point second-quarter lead.
Free throws by the unheralded Daniel Atienza with 14.9 seconds left to play served as the finishing touch in the character-testing win.
A total of eight players finished in double figures in the triumph, with SImon Camacho leading the pack with 15 points and eight rebounds.
Tio contributed 14 points on four triples. Larry Muyang and RR Garcia came through with 11 points each while the quartet of Soyud, Sean Manganti, JJay Alejandro, and Kurt Lojera all delivered 10 markers apiece.
Terrence Romeo led San Miguel with 27 points, five rebounds, and seven assists in the comeback that fell just short of being completed. Robbie Herndon made 21 points and 11 rebounds while Mo Tautuaa added 16.
Jericho Cruz had 12 points as he and Tautuaa were responsible for providing the key buckets that put the Beermen up, 101-98, with 2:23 remaining.
Meanwhile, Meralco got off to a good start in the preseason tilt as well following a 97-89 victory over a NorthPort side that’s starting life without Robert Bolick.
Allein Maliksi finished with a game-high 21 points, Bong Quinto produced 14, while Cliff Hodge and Anjo Caram added 10 apiece as the Bolts began their journey under new head coach Luigi Trillo on the right foot.
The win, however, was by no means easy. Meralco mismanaged a 20-point lead and fell behind late in the third quarter, and needed some help from Lady Luck to thwart the opposition’s last-ditch efforts in the closing minutes.
The Batang Pier got to within six behind Jeff Chan and Kent Salado with 1:13 remaining, but Arwind Santos basically killed his own team’s momentum after incurring a technical foul for continuous complaining.
It led to a technical free throw for Quinto, and he would widen the Bolts’ advantage back to seven points, 95-88, with 1:11 left to play.
Chan had 20 points to lead NorthPort. JM Calma provided 15 points and 11 rebounds while Paul Zamar chipped in 12 markers in the loss.
The Scores:
First Game:
Meralco 97 – Maliksi 21, Quinto 12, Caram 11, Torres 10, Hodge 11, Pascual 9, Pasaol 8, Jose 7, Almazan 6, Rios 0, Manday 0
Northport 89 – Chan 20, Calma 15, Zamar 12, Ayaay 9, Santos 9, Salado 8, Yu 5, Munzon 5, Taha 2, Balagasay 2, Olivario 2, Bulawan 0, Caperal 0, Gabriel 0, Comboy 0
Quarterscores: 26-12, 51-40, 64-64, 97-89
Second Game:
Phoenix Super LPG 106 – Camacho 15, Tio 14, Garcia 11, Muyang 11, Manganti 10, Lojera 10, Alejandro 10, Soyud 10, Lalata 7, Jazul 6, Atienza 2
San Miguel 101 – Romeo 27, Herndon 21, Tautuaa 16, Brondial 12, Cruz 12, Baclao 6, Bulanadi 4, Lee 3, Saldua 0, Faundo 0
Quarterscores: 37-17, 61-44, 89-78, 106-101
