Phoenix heated up from the three-point zone and clamped down on defense to claim its third win against NLEX in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup.
Phoenix seized control early then doused several NLEX rallies before cruising to a 112-77 win over the Road Warriors to quickly rebound in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City on Saturday, April 20.
Loser in their previous match against Magnolia the last time out, the Fuel Masters banked on the hot hands of RJ Jazul to pump life into their flickering playoff hopes after collecting their third win in eight games.
Jazul battered NLEX from long range, draining six triples on his way to 19 points he laced with four rebounds and four assists.
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Kenneth Tuffin (17 points), Jayjay Alejandro (16 points), Kent Salado (11 points) and Jason Perkins combined for eight treys while RR Garcia scored all of his six points on two triples.
In all, Phoenix shot 17-of-33 from the three-point area which served as a springboard for the rout.
“We just found the open looks. We moved the ball very well,” said Phoenix coach Jamike Jarin.
After a so-so 24-17 start, the Fuel Masters kicked into high gear in the second period behind Jazul, who drilled four of his total triples there for Phoenix to lead by as many as 20 points, 48-28.
The Road Warriors, though, retaliated with an 11-3 to trim the gap to 51-39 heading into the break.
But the halftime respite did little to rejuvenate NLEX.
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After Tony Semerad pulled the Road Warriors to within eight, 54-46, three minutes into the third period, a 9-0 counterassault capped by Perkins' wide-open deuce quickly restored order for the Fuel Masters.
Phoenix held NLEX sniper Robert Bolick to 11 points on a 3-for-13 clip in their PBA matchup on Saturday, April 20. | Photo (c) PBA
Phoenix was so locked in it even built a 39-point cushion, 110-71, on rookie Ricci Rivero’s three-point play on the way to the finish line.
NLEX absorbed back-to-back losses for a 5-3 tally.
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Enoch Valdez, who had a verbal spat with Tuffin in the final minutes before coller heads prevailed, paced the Road Warriors with 16 points and nine rebounds.
Jhan Nermal added 12 markers as NLEX struggled to get things humming with star Robert Bolick limited to just 11 points on 3-of-13 shooting, including 0-for-5 in the three-point zone.
Baser Amer, Semerad and Dominick Fajardo had 11 points each.
The Scores:
PHOENIX 112 – Jazul 19, Tuffin 17, Alehandro 16, Salado 11, Perkins 10, Camacho 8, Rivero 8, Mocon 6, Garcia 6, Daves 3, Verano 3, Muyang 3, Lalata 2, Soyud 0.
NLEX 77 – Valdez 16, Nermal 12, Bolick 11, Amer 11, Semerad 11, Fajardo 11, Herndon 3, Anthony 1, Napoles 1, Pascual 0, Nieto 0, Pascual 0, Rodger 0.
Quarterscores: 24-17, 51-39, 79-62, 112-77