January 22 ------ Phoenix Super LPG advanced to the semifinals of the PBA 48th Season Commissioner’s Cup, hanging on in the end game to oust Meralco, 88-84, on Sunday night at the Mall of Asia Arena. Phoenix drew usual production from Johnathan Williams while also turning to veterans Jason Perkins and RJ Jazul, remnants from the last Fuel Masters team that reached the semifinals four years ago.
Phoenix was already up by as many as 18 points, but saw its lead reduced to as low as four before the Fuel Masters made key baskets and stops in the end game witnessed by no less than team owner Dennis Uy at courtside in a rare appearance. The Fuel Masters’ impressive conference continues and will now play in the semifinals for the first time since the 2020 Philippine Cup bubble. They will face top-seed Magnolia Chicken Timplados in a best-of-five affair.
Phoenix won after being forced to play a knockout game following its 116-107 triple overtime defeat last Wednesday. “The fairy tale continues,” said Phoenix coach Jamike Jarin. Williams had 21 points and 16 rebounds, while atoning for his poor shooting game at the foul line in the previous outing by hitting 8 of his 12 free throw attempts including one that gave Phoenix an 85-81 lead. Perkins had 19 points and 13 rebounds, and drained two free throws to make it 88-81 with 6.5 seconds left. Cliff Hodge, Chris Newsome, and Allein Maliksi each had 15 points with Hodge playing despite nursing an ankle sprain he sustained in the first quarterfinal match-up.
The scores:
Phoenix Super LPG 88 – Williams 21, Perkins 19, Jazul 13, Tuffin 10, Mocon 9, Tio 6, Alejandro 4, Rivero 4, Garcia 2, Muyang 0, Manganti 0, Soyud 0, Lalata 0, Daves 0, Verano 0, Camacho 0.
Meralco 84 – Hodge 15, Newsome 15, Maliksi 15, Miller 12, Quinto 11, Black 7, Banchero 7, Almazan 2, Rios 0, Pascual 0.
Quarters: 30-22; 55-43; 77-62; 88-84.
Source: spin.ph
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