Phoenix slips past Meralco, ends skid
Games Tomorrow (Philsports Arena, Pasig City) 4:15 p.m. – TNT KaTropa vs Alaska 7 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs NLEX
Phoenix leaned on the heroics of rookie Matthew Wright and scored a come-from-behind 9490 victory over slumping Meralco last night in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Wright fired 17 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter while adding eight points and two assists as the Fuel Masters erased a 10-point deficit to bounce back from two straight lopsided defeats to the Star Hotshots and TNT KaTropa.
Mark Borboran had 17 points while rookie Gelo Alolino and Cyrus Baguio added 11 markers for Phoenix, which improved to 3-3 despite missing the services of injured players JC Intal (bruised rib) and Willy Wilson (bum stomach).
“I am just relieved,” said Phoenix coach Ariel Vanguardia, whose team entered the game reeling from the 123-79 loss to Star and 117-98 to TNT.
“We lost the last two games by an average of 31 points… it’s like sleepless nights for all of us. Halfway point and we are 2-3, and we are not out. On our sixth game, I told them let's just start 0-0,” added Vanguardia.
The win was also sentimental for Vanguardia, who coached his first game at the San Juan venue since his days as coach of Jose Rizal University in the NCAA.
“This arena brings back a lot of memories. Maraming laban ang naipanalo rito,” a teary-eyed Vanguardia said.
Rookie Jonathan Grey, who played most of his College of St. Benilde career playing at the same venue, had 24 points but Meralco dropped its second straight game, thus falling to 2-3.
The exciting game was witnessed by former Los Angeles Lakers guard and many-time NBA coach Byron Scott, who was a guest of the Meralco team.
Wright showed why he earned a reputation as one of the best shooters under Vanguardia at the Westports Malaysia Dragons in the ASEAN Basketball League during Phoenix’s stirring rally.
Phoenix started the fourth starring at a 75-65 deficit, but Wright combined with Alolino on an 11-0 run to take a 7675 lead, 8:08 remaining in the game.
Meralco took its final lead on Grey’s triple, 90-88, with 1:26 to play, but Baguiio answered with a three of his own to put Phoenix ahead for good, 91-90.
Bolts freshman Ed Daquioag missed a jumper, allowing Wright to convert two free throws off a foul to extend the Phoenix lead to 93-90, 27.2 ticks left on the game clock.
Grey missed a potential game-tying trey on the ensuing possession before Wright his free throws to seal the final count.
In the second game, rookie Mac Belo had 20 points and six rebounds as Blackwater defeated Globalport, 99-91, to gain solo second at 4-2. John Pinto added 15 points, four rebounds and six assists for the Elite, who are a half-game behind solo leader San Miguel Beer (4-1).
Wright 22, Borboran 17, Baguio 11, Alolino 11, Enciso 7, J.Wilson 7, Torres 6, Caperal 5, Hayes 4, Lanete 4, Javillonar 0, Miranda 0. Grey 24, Hugatan 15, Hodge 12, Daquioag 11, Yeo 9, Amer 7, Nabong 4, Newsome 2, Al-Hussaini 2, Caram 2, Chua 2, Uyloan 0. Quarters: 22-19; 45-44; 65-75; 94-90.
Belo 20, Pinto 15, De la Cruz 13, Buenafe 11, Sumang 9, Aguilar 7, Banal 5, Cervantes 5, Sena 4, Forrester 4, Ababou 2, Miranda 2, Pascual 2. Romeo 22, Pringle 14, Quinahan 12, Canaleta 11, Pessumal 10, Cortez 10, Pennisi 5, Mamaril 5, Banal 2, Urbiztondo 0, Paredes 0. Quarters: 23-23; 49-48; 78-68; 99-91.