Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times
(C) PBA Images

Basketball

Phoenix torches struggling TNT for second win in PBA PH Cup


Phoenix handed TNT a 95-81 beatdown for its second win in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup on Friday night at the Ynares Center II in Montalban.

The Fuel Masters leaned on the solid shooting of Jason Perkins, Tyler Tio, and Kenneth Tuffin to jump to a 28-14 lead at the end of the first quarter. And that was all they needed to set the tone for the rout, eventually getting back on track.

Coach Jamike Jarin’s wards got blown out by Magnolia in Zamboanga City the last time out. This time, they bounced back convincingly by venting their ire on a team that’s now off to its worst start in nearly three decades.

The flagship MVP Group franchise fell to 0-3 in a conference for the first time since the 2000 All-Filipino Cup, per league stats chief Fidel Mangonon III.

2025-PBA-Philippine-Cup-Phoenix-vs-TNT-Tyler-Tio Phoenix torches struggling TNT for second win in PBA PH Cup Basketball News PBA  - philippine sports news

(C) PBA Images

“We forgot to have fun. No matter what the results will be after 48 minutes, we have to have fun. But I said, it’s gonna be more fun winning than having fun losing. So, we all responded,” said the veteran bench tactician.

Perkins led the way with 27 points, six rebounds, three assists, and a block in a solid performance that saw him finish the game without a foul.

“Just staying in the moment,” said the lefty big man, who shot 55-percent from the floor, including a perfect 3-for-3 clip from three-point distance.

Tio supplied 16 points, spiked by three triples as well. He and Perkins accounted for half of Phoenix’s 12 treys in the wire-to-wire win.

#ReadMore  PBA: Meralco rams past NLEX, arrests skid

Tuffin and Ballungay delivered 11 points apiece, while RJ Jazul chipped in 10 markers off the bench in the win that improved their record to 2-3.

The Fuel Masters will look to take down another traditional contender in San Miguel on May 11, Sunday, 5:00 PM at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

2025-PBA-Philippine-Cup-Phoenix-vs-TNT-Calvin-Oftana Phoenix torches struggling TNT for second win in PBA PH Cup Basketball News PBA  - philippine sports news

(C) PBA Images

Calvin Oftana, on the other hand, finished with 20 points, nine rebounds, and six assists to lead the Grand Slam seekers in the loss. Simon Enciso and Rey Nambatac backed him up with 14 and 12 points, respectively.

The road won’t get easier for the Tropang 5G as they will also be battling the Beermen next this Sunday, May 4, 7:30 PM at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.


The Scores:

Phoenix 95 – Perkins 27, Tio 16, Tuffin 11, Ballungay 11, Jazul 10, Garcia 8, Camacho 3, Manganti 3, Soyud 2, Verano 2, Ular 2, Rivero 0, Alejandro 0, Daves 0.

TNT 81 – Oftana 20, Enciso 14, Nambatac 12, Pogoy 10, Razon 6, Heruela 6, Khobuntin 5, Erram 4, Payawal 2, Galinato 2, Williams 0, Ebona 0, Aurin 0, Varilla 0.

Quarterscores: 28-14, 50-32, 73-55, 95-81.

Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.


You May Also Like

Basketball

Leo Austria and San Miguel remain unfazed by soaring expectations as they look to halt TNT’s bid for PBA immortality in the Philippine Cup...

Basketball

Don’t even bother throwing any ‘asa sa import’ jab at Chot Reyes and TNT. None from the Tropang 5G are actually affected by such...

Basketball

Tim Cone believes fatigue will be Gilas Pilipinas’ biggest challenge as the national team ramps up preparations for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 this...

Basketball

June Mar Fajardo allayed fears of his injury worsening after hurting his leg early in San Miguel’s eventual win over Barangay Ginebra in the...

Basketball

Winning a rare PBA Grand Slam won’t be the only history Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser that could achieve should he and TNT succeed in their bid,...

Basketball

LA Tenorio’s game-winning three in Game 6 stung Jericho Cruz so badly that he went sleepless trying to process what happened. The shot happened...

Basketball

Seeing LA Tenorio’s exploits to will Ginebra past San Miguel in Game 6 of their PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semis battle lit a...

Basketball

No trilogy is taking place in the PBA Season 49, as San Miguel tore up the script by ousting Barangay Ginebra, 100-93, to advance...

Advertisement