Fuel Masters down Kings, move to 2nd
Games Wednesday (Cuneta Astrodome) 4:15 p.m. – Star vs Blackwater 7 p.m. – TNT KaTropa vs GlobalPort
Phoenix Petroleum put up a highoctane performance versus a Japeth Aguilar-less Barangay Ginebra side, pulling off a wire- to- wire 79- 73 victory to claim an outright playoff berth in the PBA Philippine Cup at the PhilSports Arena last night.
Resolute on defense and steady in offense, the Fuel Masters rammed past the Gin Kings to seize solo second place with a guaranteed spot in the post-elims play with their sixth win against four losses.
“They’re without Japeth (Aguilar) and that gave us a lift. I wish him well, but it’s really a big help for us that we’re healthier,” said Phoenix coach Ariel Vanguardia.
“We played percentage basketball. We know they’re struggling from the three-point area and we packed the paint,” Vanguardia also said.
Phoenix did play a methodical defense, holding Ginebra down to its second lowest output in the season, and subsequently relegated the Gin Kings down to joint seventh with the Blackwater Elite at 5-5.
The Gin Kings struggled badly with coach Tim Cone opting to keep Aguilar on the bench with his strained muscle problem. Ginebra also played minus Aljon Mariano.
In the first game, Alaska Milk worked on a strong finishing kick to repel Mahindra, 107- 91, as the Aces sprang back from an upset by the Blackwater Elite the last time out and surged into contention for the Top Two.
Dragged into a tight contest in the first 40 minutes, the Aces made a key run behind clutch plays by their mainstays midway through the fourth quarter and went on to nail the crucial win that shoved Alaska to joint third at 5- 4 with GlobalPort, Rain or Shine and TNT KaTropa.
Tony dela Cruz, Sonny Thoss and Dondon Hontiveros, the team’s most senior players, provided the lift as Alaska practically slammed the quarters door on Mahindra in handing the Floodbuster a seventh loss against two wins.
“As great as our young guys are, Tony, Dondon and Sonny changed the game for us tonight. Our veteran leaders came in the second half. Tony was great in the third quarter while Dondon and Sonny were really key players in the fourth,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton.
Vic Manuel top scored 20 points while Calvin Abueva turned in 18 markers and 10 rebounds but the trio of Dela Cruz, Thoss and Hontiveros struck with the key buckets that kept the team afloat in the third quarter before pulling away in the fourth canto.
Dela Cruz rattled in seven points off the bench in the third period while Hontiveros and Thoss combined for 10 in their fourth-quarter rampage.
Hontiveros fired a booming trey to spark their decisive surge from a 79-all count in the last eight minutes. The scores: First Game ALASKA 107 – Manuel 20, Abueva 18, Casio 11, Jazul 9, Racal 9, Dela Cruz 7, Galliguez 7, Hontiveros 7, Thoss 5, Mendoza 5, Magat 3, Pascual 2, Exciminiano 2, Cruz 2.
MAHINDRA 91 – Mallari 23, Escoto 16, Eriobu 15, Celda 10, Deutchman 9, Teng 7, Ballesteros 4, Paniamogan 3, Elorde 2, Yee 2, Revilla 0, Salva 0, Gallanza 0, Digregorio 0.
Quarterscores: 27-27, 53-42, 74-72, 107-91 Second Game PHOENIX 79 – Wright 18, Intal 16, Enciso 11, W. Wilson 10, J. Wilson 8, Lanete 5, Torres 5, Baguio 3, Borboran 2, Miranda 1, Caperal 0, Alolino 0.
GINEBRA 73 – Tenorio 15, Caguioa 15, Thompson 10, Marcelo 10, Devance 8, Ferrer 7, Mercado 3, Cruz 3, Ellis 2, Taha 0, Helterbrand 0.
Quarterscores: 17-10, 38-26, 5747, 79-73