Surging F Masters blast listless Texters
Phoenix roared to its third victory in four games last night, crushing a listless TNT KaTropa, 112-82, in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
It was an easy win for the Fuel Masters, who led by as many as 41 points in the fourth quarter, and could have won by a wider margin if they only wanted to.
“We expected a tough game,” said head coach Louie Alas after the team’s hottest start since he took over the coaching chores late last year.
Defending champion Ginebra launched its bid for a third straight Governors Cup crown by dealing Columbian Dyip yet another bitter loss, 96-84.
“Kia (Columbian) did a great job extending us and making us play for 48 minutes. It was a struggle out there,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone, whose players pulled away only in the dying minutes.
Ginebra has beaten the Columbian franchise in all 12 meetings since 2014. The Dyip have lost all four games this conference when they had the chance to win them all.
Jason Perkins led the Phoenix onslaught with 22 points, followed by Matthew Wright (16), import Eugene Phelps (15), RJ Jazul (13) and Calvin Abueva (12).
The Fuel Masters had a total of 74 rebounds and went 12-of-24 from three-point area. They led by 16 points in the opening quarter and by 30 points at halftime.
The KaTropa absorbed their fourth defeat against a single victory, and just can’t do anything right on the floor the past three games.
Hotshot Terrence Romeo was not fielded in although he was in uniform. Team manager Virgil Villavicencio said Romeo was suffering from tonsillitis.
TNT import Stacy Davis struggled with 13 points and 11 rebounds. He was pulled out of the game with five minutes left and his team down by 40 points.
Davis, advertised as a heavy scorer, sat on the bench then covered his head with his towel. Word is that management is looking to replace him.
TNT coach Nash Racela was speechless as he walked inside the dugout. Later on, he told reporters, “I don’t have answers,” then left.
Phoenix played four games in nine days, beating Columbian Dyip and NorthPort before losing to Alaska last Wednesday, and bouncing back strong against TNT.
First Game Phoenix 112 – Perkins 22, Wright 16, Phelps 15, Jazul 13, Abueva 12, Eriobu 9, Chua 8, Revilla 6, Mendoza 6, Intal 3, Wilson 2, Gamboa 0.
TNT 82 – Tamsi 14, Davis 13, Cruz 12, Garcia 11, Carey 8, Semerad 7, Pogoy 7, Rosario 5, Reyes 3, Castro 2, Golla 0, Paredes 0, Williams 0, Saitanan 0.
Quarterscores: 29-17, 61-31, 85-56, 112-82 Second Game Ginebra 96 – Brownlee 34, Aguilar 14, Slaughter 14, Thompson 10, Mariano 8, Tenorio 7, Chan 7, Ferrer 2, Caguioa 0, Manuel 0.
Columbian 84 – McCarthy 18, King 17, Camson 14, Wright 12, Khobuntin 5, Escoto 5, Reyes 5, Sara 4, Gabriel 4, Ababou 0, Lastimosa 0, Cabrera 0, Cahilig 0.
Quarterscores: 23-18, 41-36, 61-61, 96-84