Learning continues for Phoenix Fuel Masters
FOR the second straight conference this Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) season, the buck stopped for the Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters in the quarterfinals.
But while they admitted that exiting early yet again is tough, they also recognize that it is something that a young team like them have to go through and, ditto, learn from.
Losing to the second- seeded San Miguel Beermen, 115- 96, in their quarterfinal pairing last Tuesday, the Fuel Masters, the seventh seeds, were officially ousted from the mid- season tournament Commissioner’s Cup. Facing a twice- to- win disadvantage against the Beermen, the circumstances were simply too tough to overcome for the barely two-year- old PBA squad.
It marked the second time this season that Phoenix bowed out in the last eight. In the previous tournament Philippine Cup, the team ended as the sixth seed but was swept by the Star Hotshots in their best- of- three quarterfinals.
For Phoenix coach Ariel Vanguardia, failing to go over the quarterfinal hump left a sting but nonetheless said they are looking at it as a “process” towards being competitive in Asia’s first play-for-pay league.
“Growing pains with this club. We thanked God we haven’t missed the quarterfinals but we have to get over the hump, the quarterfinals hump,” said Mr. Vanguardia in an interview with a group of sportswriters after their loss to San Miguel.
“We are very positive that we are building something here. It’s tough but every team who wants to be a champion goes through this phase. Rain or Shine went through it. Now teams like GlobalPort and Meralco are going through it as well. Hopefully the foundation we are building would help us in the future,” he added.
Mr. Vanguardia went on to say that he is bullish moving forward with young cogs like Matthew Wright and Gelo Alolino in their fold and proving their true worth.
“We definitely improved in the draft when we got Matt and Gelo. I think Gelo has proven himself to be much better than the position where he was drafted at while Matt has made a good case to be our future. Then there is also Joseph Eriobu who is up and coming,” he said.
Now that they are already eliminated, the Phoenix coach said they will now start preparing for the Governors’ Cup which opens in the third week of July.
Phoenix will be bringing back explosive import Eugene Phelps to banner its campaign in the PBA season-ending tournament, something it is very excited about.
“We are bringing back Eugene Phelps and hopefully he can help us get that elusive first playoff win next conference,” said Mr. Vanguardia.
The coach shared that they will begin their camp on June 19 and are planning to play in pocket tournaments abroad to get them ready for the Governors’ Cup. —