ANTIPOLO — Phoenix rebounded in a big way by finally getting one against a long-time tormentor in San Miguel, 109-103, to notch its first win in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center here on Sunday night.
As that 93-78 defeat to TNT left a bitter taste in their mouth, the Fuel Masters displayed maturity in the fourth quarter, establishing a lead as big as 16 before exercising solid poise in the endgame toward barging into the win column.
The Beermen got to within four twice inside the final 1:34, but Ricci Rivero and Evan Nelle came through with the crucial free throws, which ultimately enabled the crew to escape–and end a lengthy losing streak against the powerhouse.
Phoenix came into the tiff with a 10-game skid against SMB, and it truly couldn’t get any sweeter for the franchise to have snapped as much by sending the reigning conference champions to its second loss in as many games.
(C) PBA Images
“It’s very significant even without talking about the 10-game losing streak. It’s just knowing that we have the ability to beat a champion team like SMB,” said Willy Wilson, who notched his first official win as head coach.
“You kind of get into that rut of, ‘What bad thing is going to happen next?’ So really for the players to actually know that this team is capable, that’s big.”
Rivero top-scored for the Fuel Masters with 16 points and seven rebounds in the victory that also gave Willy Wilson his first win as a PBA head coach.
Kai Ballungay and Tyler Tio made 14 points each. Jason Perkins had 13 points while Nelle fell just short of a double-double with nine points and 10 assists in the character win, although Wilson refuses to get carried away.
“Tuloy-tuloy ‘yung adjustment. Pinakita namin kanina, is just a small portion of ‘yung gusto namin ilabas sa court. The team is relatively new,” he said.
“We have seven new guys, so these guys are still learning how to get the best out of each other–and I’m still learning how to get the best out of them. And I’m still trying to find the best in me as well,” added the 45-year-old.
(C) PBA Images
Wasted by the defeat, meanwhile, was the near-20-20 outing of June Mar Fajardo to lead San Miguel as he tallied 19 points and 22 rebounds.
Don Trollano made 18 points as he and the nine-time MVP were responsible in cutting the gap to four twice but couldn’t find the extra gear to finish properly–similar to their stinging loss to NLEX in their season opener last Wednesday.
CJ Perez made 17 points while Jericho Cruz added 15 points and seven assists for the Beermen, who are off to a 0-2 start for the first time since the Season 46 Governors’ Cup, according to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III.
The Scores:
Phoenix 109 – Rivero 16, Tio 14, Ballungay 14, Perkins 13, Nelle 10, Caperal 9, Daves 7, Kwekuteye 6, Taha 6, Santos 5, Escandor 3, Jazl 2, Ando 0.
San Miguel 103 – Fajardo 19, Cruz 15, Perez 17, Trollano 16, Lassiter 9, Rosales 9, Brondial 6, Tautuaa 5, Tiongson 5, Miller 0, Cahilig 0.
Quarterscores: 27-23, 61-51, 82-74, 109-103.
