They are now on a three-game winning streak.
The Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters held a lead as big as 23 points over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in their PBA Governors’ Cup matchup on Wednesday. At one point, Phoenix blitzed ROS and went on a 19-0 scoring tear.
They looked good.
Granted, Rain or Shine had to play without an import after its new reinforcement, Jordan Tolbert, exceeded the 6-foot-6 height limit. Phoenix, nonetheless, was playing winning basketball.
In the first half, they shot 60% from the field while bullying the Elasto Painters for a 32-8 edge in points in the paint. It may have looked like the game was over by then.
Until the Yeng Guiao-coached squad mounted a comeback.
“Nung second half, parang nag-relax kami, hindi kami maka-rebound,” said Phoenix guard RR Garcia.
“We were up big, but you can see the heart in them because of their coach,” coach Jamike Jarin added.
ROS even cut the lead to four points with only 39 seconds left in the game.
The Fuel Masters, however, faced the challenge head on and ultimately delivered a 114-106 win. Coach Jamike says that is a sign his team is inching towards becoming the best version of itself.
“This team is maturing already. We took it and we just kept on playing,” he said.
Jarin and his squad started the season at 1-5, but with three straight wins under their belts, they have improved to 4-5 and now have a temporary grip on the sixth seed, as of writing.
That’s good, but not good enough for Jarin.
“It feels good but we don’t look good because we’re not yet in the .500.”
The bigger test for the Fuel Masters lies ahead. Needing every win they can get to secure a postseason spot, they will face on Friday crowd favorite and Commissioner’s Cup champions, the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings.
“The game on Friday is gonna be very, very crucial for us. So, as soon as we leave the dugout, we are preparing for the game.”
They would definitely want to not just look good, but to play good in that game.