PBA: Phoenix foils Blackwater for breakthrough win in Governors' Cup

Phoenix could finally heave a sigh of relief knowing it would not end the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup without a victory.

The Fuel Masters finally broke through the win column after frustrating Blackwater, 119-114, on Sunday, Sept.15.

RR Garcia took care of business for the Fuel Masters especially in the fourth period to nip the Bossing's uprising in the bud.

Blackwater was down by as much as 20, 60-80, in the third, but was on the verge of cutting that to single digits at 78-90, heading to the fourth.

But the former UAAP MVP Garcia dropped 16 of his 20 points in the frame, including eight in the final six minutes of action to repeatedly thwart the Bossing.

Import Brandone Francis then delivered the finishing blows for Phoenix, beginning with a booming three-pointer with 48.8 ticks for a 113-107 lead.

He would score four more after that as the Fuel Masters finally carved out a win after seven losses.

Francis flirted with a triple double with his 23 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, Jason Perkins added 19 points and nine boards while Ricci Rivero chipped in in 14 markers.

The Fuel Masters will take on Brgy. Ginebra and NLEX in their last two assignments in the elimination round.

Phoenix coach Jamike Jarin later issued an apology to the team's fans after a “frustrating” first seven games in the import-spiced conference.

“We’re 1-7 right now. We were frustrated in the first seven games because almost all our games, we were in it. And then eventually, finally, we got a win tonight,” said Jarin.

“I take full responsibility for all those losses. My apologies to everybody, especially to the Phoenix organization and to the players. We got over the hump. We will work harder for our next game.”

George King led all Blackwater scorers with 32 points, but it was Sedrick Barefield and James Kwekuteye who brought the Bossing back into the game.

Barefield and Kwekuteye combined for 28 points in the fourth period, where the Bossing managed to even pull to within two, 88-90, after the duo put up a 9-0 rally with 10:21 left in the fourth.

It was a seesaw battle from there, before Francis’ cold-blooded shot from beyond the arc started putting the Bossing away for good.

Barefield fired five triples for 30 big points, while Kwekuteye had six from that range to come up with 20 points on top of six rebounds, an assist and a block for Blackwater, which absorbed its second straight loss for a 3-5 slate.

 The Scores:

PHOENIX 119 – Francis 23, Garcia 20, Perkins 19, Rivero 14, Ballungay 12, Tio 7, Ular 5, Tuffin 5, Jazul 4, Soyud 3, Manganti 3, Muyang 2, Salado 2, Verano 0, Alejandro 0.

BLACKWATER 114 – King 32, Barefield 30, Kwekuteye 20, Rosario 10, Escoto 10, Ilagan 4, Chua 3, Suerte 3, David 2, Micthell 0, Casio 0.