The Phoenix Fuel Masters will need to win most of its remaining games to have a shot at making it into the PBA Commissioner's Cup Playoffs.
Phoenix Fuel Masters head coach Jamike Jarin continues to hold out hope for his team’s playoff aspirations in the ongoing PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Needing a victory, the Fuel Masters improved to a 2-5 record for 11th in the standings following their 122-108 victory over TerraFirma Dyip at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig on Tuesday, January 7.
“There’s still a lot of games to play,” Jarin said during the post-game press conference. “We can’t do anything about the past games. We just have to learn from them and focus on the next one.”
Despite the victory, Jarin acknowledged the frustrations stemming from the team’s struggles earlier in the conference, where they failed to close out crucial games against the Meralco Bolts, San Miguel Beermen, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, and guest team Eastern.
In most of their games, Phoenix was the first to create a lead against their opponents before seeing the advantage disappear and collapsing in the final moments.
Nonetheless, Jarin stressed the importance of staying positive, especially with plenty of games still to be played for the Fuel Masters.
“It’s very disappointing, of course—not just for me but for everyone, from the ballboys to the players, the assistant coaches, and especially management,” Jarin emphasized. “But we have to stick together. We can’t implode. We just need to stay positive and build on the lessons from our previous games.”
The win over Terrafirma was powered by a stellar performance from Donovan Smith, who erupted for 37 points, seven rebounds, five blocks, and three assists.
Smith was supported by Jason Perkins, who contributed 16 points, Ricci Rivero with 14 points, five assists, and three steals, and Tyler Tio, who added 10 points.
Jarin also highlighted the role of team maturity and experience in overcoming their early struggles. He noted that veteran leadership, particularly from Smith, will play a crucial role in the team’s development.
“The first thing he [Donovan Smith] said to me was, ‘I’ll be an extension of you coaches.’ That’s huge for us because this team is young, and we’re eager to learn. We lack experience, but the good thing is we’re all willing to listen to each other,” Jarin shared.
[ALSO READ: Phoenix import Donovan Smith attributes win vs Terrafirma to defense, total team effort]
Phoenix now turns its attention to their next game against Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on Saturday, January 11, hoping to sustain their momentum and keep their playoff hopes alive.
"We need to prepare, rest our bodies, and then prepare for Rain or Shine,” Jarin concluded.