Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Basketball

Being on ‘wrong side of the media’ has affected Phoenix, admits Matt Wright


Over the past two weeks, the Phoenix Fuel Masters have been the talk of the town. But it was for the wrong reasons.

And it has greatly affected the morale of the squad.

Matthew Wright admitted as much when Phoenix lost to Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on Sunday. It was their second loss in a row since the league slapped Calvin Abueva with an indefinite suspension stemming from ugly incidents he’s involved in.

The forward nicknamed ‘the Beast’ is out for an indefinite amount of time after he clotheslined TNT KaTropa Terrence Jones, and directed lewd gestures at Ray Parks’ girlfriend. All incidents happened just last week.

“We’ve been on the wrong side of the media last couple of weeks and I feel like it’s kind of seeping into our mentality a little bit,” said the Fil-Canadian cager.

“We have to arrest that immediately before this conference becomes a ‘sayang’.”

Aside from Abueva, the Fuel Masters also did not have head coach Louie Alas in their previous two outings. He was serving his two-game suspension following his involvement in the heated TNT-Phoenix match last June 2.

Without the two, Wright admitted that the Fuel Masters have lost some of their edge in their last games.

“I just feel like we’re losing a bit of our edge with Calvin gone and coach Louie suspended for a couple of games,” he said. “Those two guys, especially coach Louie, believe it or not, he’s a source of a lot of our inner toughness.

“I feel like we’re just losing a little bit of our edge as a team, the edge that Phoenix has been playing with the last couple of conference that you guys have been familiar with,” added the St. Bonaventure product.

“I thought that we’re just getting a little soft, and other teams are taking advantage of that and out-physicaling us – just beating us on loose balls and all those fifty-fifty balls.”

Phoenix dropped to 1-3 in the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup following Sunday’s loss. But much as they miss Abueva, Wright said that each and every Fuel Master has to step up in the absence of the enigmatic forward.

“We don’t know how long Calvin’s gonna be gone for, but we just have to take [it]. What he brings is hustle, rebounds, toughness… Guys just have to step up and be that and try to be as Calvin as possible, if that makes any sense.”

#ReadMore  Kevin Alas overcomes trauma in Ynares Center
Written By

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


You May Also Like

Basketball

NLEX finally laid its agonizing four-game losing skid to rest by crushing the also-ran Phoenix, 104-79, to keep its quarterfinal chances alive in the...

Basketball

Ginebra booked its place in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup quarterfinals by putting an end to the hopes of Phoenix, 112-96, for an...

Basketball

Brandone Francis struck the dagger as Phoenix warded off Blackwater, 119-114, to finally end its winless spell and – more importantly – stay alive...

Basketball

As if he was making a statement, Jordan Adams erupted for 49 points to power San Miguel past luckless Phoenix, 139-127, for an emphatic...

Basketball

NLEX and Phoenix have submitted a trade proposal to the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) office on Wednesday, which will see the Road Warriors acquiring...

Basketball

Rain or Shine finished strongly to keep Phoenix listless, 122-107, for a quick bounce-back in the PBA Governors’ Cup, Tuesday at the Ninoy Aquino...

Basketball

Japeth Aguilar submitted his best outing of the conference to date as Ginebra repelled Phoenix, 110-101, to win back-to-back games for the first time...

Basketball

Sedrick Barefield played the fireman’s role to help Blackwater put out the fiery fourth-quarter rally of Phoenix, 123-111, for back-to-back wins in the PBA...

Advertisement