Phoenix Super LPG, amid an ice-cold performance in the first three quarters that saw them just make 3-of-30 shots, overcame the 17 point lead of Magnolia, 91-84, to snap a two-game losing skid in the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup Friday at the Angeles University Foundation Sports Arena and Cultural Center.
In the last eight minutes, the Fuel Masters, which now improved to 3-2 in the standings, erupted with a back-breaking 22-0 run to completely turn the game around and avoid losing for the third straight time.
“We just didn’t want to give up. It’s just the beauty of this basketball game,” said, coach Topex Robinson.
“We’re not here to beat the competition. It’s just for us to keep growing, keep on improving on our craft. Again, we want to be the best version of ourselves. I just told them whatever the result is, we don’t want to go back to this thinking of what we should have done. Instead of thinking about our past and regrets, we just wanted to focus on the now. We were just in the moment. Everybody was just in the moment. Guys were just hitting big shots after big shots,” added Robinson.
Matthew Wright and Jason Perkins combined for 43 points, with the former’s jumper off an offensive rebound at the 3:37 mark equalizing the match at 80-all. The three consecutive treys of RJ Jazul, Justin Chua, and JC Intal made it even more difficult for Magnolia to return to the game. Eventually, it was RR Garcia’s easy layup with 33 seconds left that put the final nail in Magnolia’s coffin.
Meanwhile, in a losing effort, Chris Banchero led the Hotshots with 20, Ian Sangalang chipped in 15, while Rafi Reavis tallied 12 and 10 boards in a start. Magnolia slid to its third consecutive loss and now holds a 1-4 card.
Phoenix Vs Magnolia Box Score
Quarters: 22-16, 34-39, 60-71, 94-81
Fuel Masters (91) — Wright 23, Perkins 20, Chua 14, Garcia 12, Intal 8, Jazul 7, Napoles 4, Marcelo 2, Heruela 1, Gamboa 0, Rios 0.
Hotshots (84) — Banchero 20, Sangalang 15, Reavis 12, Lee 10, Barroca 10, Dela Rosa 7, Melton 3, Jalalon 3, Corpuz 2, Calisaan 2, Pascual 0, Abundo 0.