The Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters is scheduled for a head-to-head game against the Terrafirma Dyip at 1:00 PM on November 3, 2020 live from the AUF Sports Arena and Cultural Center in Angeles City, Pampanga.
With Matthew Wright leading all scorers in the tourney, who currently averages 25.71 points per game, the Phoenix Super LPG is expected to bounce back from a sorry loss against the Alaska Aces who won come-from-behind against them last Thursday (October 29), before the Inter-Agency Task Force’s recommendation to suspend the PBA bubble briefly.
Phoenix can’t seem to answer back a charging Vic Manuel who took charge in the final quarter, as Alaska outclassed the Calvin Abueva-led Phoenix Super LPG, erasing a 14-point deficit and building their own double-digit advantage in a crucial turnaround, 105-97. Manuel finished with 24 points to lead resurgent Alaska to its fifth win in eight games overall.
With the defeat, the Topex Robinson coached-Fuel Masters saw its two-game winning streak come to an end and dropped to 4-3 despite Wright’s scoring 27 points and Abueva contributing 18 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
Meanwhile, Terrafirma Dyip came close to finally pulling off a win Tuesday night (October 27) only to throw bricks at the finish against the surging Alaska Aces.
The Dyip couldn’t match the Aces’ poise and composure in the home stretch and thus giving the victory to Alaska, currently with a 5-3 win-loss card.
In the last 2:37 of play, Terrafirma went scoreless, muffing five field-goal attempts and squandering a chance to end a dry spell in the tourney. With this, they remained the lone winless team at 0-5 halfway through the short elims.
Very capable of pulling an upset anytime behind its young core led by 2019 Rookie of the Year CJ Perez, the struggling Terrafirma will try to make a last-minute push to make the playoffs by defeating Phoenix, who is also eyeing a strong finish to their playoff bid in the PBA bubble.