Phoenix Super LPG is keeping its options open regarding its import situation in the 2021-22 PBA Governors’ Cup.
The Fuel Masters have paraded Dominique Sutton against TNT on Sunday, and their partnership started off on the right foot as they escaped with the thrilling 93-92 victory for their second straight win in the conference.
Coach Topex Robinson, though, said that the team will ‘play it by ear’ when asked if they will stick with the American for the rest of the meet.
The team still has Donald Tankoua in tow for stand-in purposes. The San Beda Red Lion was tapped as a substitute import and was planned to be fielded for Harris, until Sutton became available all of a sudden.
“I guess, we just have to play it by ear with him as he is still adjusting to our system,” he said after the match at SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Brought in for the injured Paul Harris, Sutton immediately suited up against the Tropang Giga despite arriving in the country days before the resumption.
The former import of Air21 and GlobalPort finished with 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the floor, along with 10 rebounds, three steals, two assists, and a block against four turnovers in exactly 37 minutes.
Fuel Masters main man Matthew Wright lauded the efforts of their new import, who converted a big three-point play in the final minutes as he helped out in his side’s fightback after coughing up a 12-point lead early.
“Dom was big for us today,” said Wright, who had 27 points and 10 assists. “Dom just came off the plane three days ago, so he’s jet-lagged, he doesn’t even know the plays yet.
“But his defensive instincts really saved us today.”
But then again, Robinson said that Sutton still has to be fully ingrained with Phoenix’s scheme of things moving forward.
“He came in a few days ago. Still adjusting. Actually, we only had him practicing with us full-time yesterday,” he said.
“Still adjusting to our system, but it’s really important that we got this victory in preparation for Magnolia next week.”
—
All PBA games stream live on GigaPlay. Download it now on Android or IOS.
The second game of each playdate is also livestreamed on SMART Sports.
