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Communication was key for Phoenix, who rallied from a 16-point deficit against an eliminated Blackwater team on Monday to gut a 100-95 comeback victory that secured only third place in the playoffs at the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup. in the Sports Stadium of the University Foundation of Angeles Cultural Center.
After finding themselves staring at a 50-34 hole early in the third quarter, the Fuel Masters turned it around at both ends of the court to take the big win from behind and take a share of the lead alongside Barangay Geneva and TNT at 7- 3 at the top of the rankings.
Calvin Abueva had a great day at the office and flirted with another triple-double by finishing with 17 points, 13 rebounds and eight dimes while tacking on two steals and two blocks.
“We want us to dictate where we are going to go, and we don’t want to waste this opportunity to land in the top four,” Abueva said in Filipino during the exit interview.
Phoenix’s offense was basically non-existent in the first half as the Elite defense forced their counterparts to shoot just 30.2 percent from the floor and 4-of-18 on 3-pointers.
But after a Mac Belo three pushed Blackwater to their biggest lead of the game two minutes after the second half, the Fuel Masters simply decided they had had enough.
Jason Perkins and Abueva combined for 16 in a massive 21-4 turn to put Phoenix back on top, with Matthew Wright’s 3-pointer from left wing at halftime culminating that run to give the Fuel Masters their first proof of the lead at 55-54 with less than six minutes to go.
Blackwater regained some semblance of control and returned to the top after finishing a quarter-seam with a 70-67 lead. They even took a 79-71 lead in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter when Belo scored eight early, but Phoenix leaned on a hyperactive Abueva dictating the defense to put them forward once again.
The Fuel Masters first rallied with a 10-0 run to take an 81-79 lead, then rigorous work on the other end of the court and then on the glass led to a 3-pointer from Chua that gave them a lead of 89-82 with 3:34 left.
Blackwater tried to stay and cut it to four, 91-87, thanks to a jump shot from Nino Canaleta, but a Perkins 3-pointer from the right wing with 1:09 to play sealed the comeback for the Fuel Masters even after the Elite will try to give Phoenix a scare at the last minute.
“In the first half we had problems because we trusted instincts more. There was no communication. In the second half, everyone was talking about how we needed to communicate and rush, and how we needed to double our efforts because this Blackwater team had nothing to lose.” Abueva said.
Perkins scored 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting and three 3s to go with 12 rebounds. Wright resisted a quiet night of shooting to finish with 17, six boards and five dimes, while Brian Heruela came off the bench in a big way with 15 and seven rebounds.
Phoenix won the rebounding battle overwhelmingly, grabbing 67 rebounds compared to just 46 for Blackwater. That number included 29 offensive rebounds that led to 25 second-chance points.
“These games will only make us better. These games will only make us grow. As everyone said, we are a young team. We have so much more to learn and we are very grateful to have had this kind of experience.” against Blackwater, “said head coach Topex Robinson.
After its third straight win, Phoenix is still on the hunt for one of four two-time spots to beat and could secure it with a win Wednesday against Rain or Shine.
“We will never see where we are now. As much as it is getting tighter and tighter right now, it will just go back to being, once again, the best versions of ourselves and just trying to grow,” Robinson said. “We have no control over the other teams, what the teams will do, what they will prepare for, but we have 100 percent control over how we play.”
Blackwater, already out of the playoff race before the game, continued its free fall and suffered a seventh loss in a row to slide to 2-8 in the standings.
Canaleta led the Elite once again with 21 points on 3s of 5 of 7, while Belo finished with 17 and eight rebounds. Don Trollano threw 13 and eight boards, while Richard Escoto finished with 11.
The Elite can end the season with a win when they face Magnolia on Wednesday.
THE SCORES
Phoenix 100 – Perkins 18, Abueva 17, Wright 17, Heruela 15, García 9, Jazul 9, Chua 7, Intal 6, Marcelo 2, Mallari 0, Ríos 0
Blackwater 95 – Canaleta 21, Belo 17, Trollano 13, Escoto 11, Tolomia 9, Sumang 8, Magat 8, Gabriel 4, Dario 2, Daquioag 2, Golla 0, Salem 0, Dennison 0.
Trimesters: 15-21, 34-45, 67-70, 100-95.
EXTRA JARS
– Chua had five of Phoenix’s seven blocks and continues to lead the league in that category with 1.9 per game.
– Phoenix started the game losing its first nine 3-pointers before going 13-of-31 (41.9 percent) the rest of the way.
– The Fuel Masters had 15 turnovers in the first half, but cleaned up in the second by committing just seven.
UNTIL NEXT TIME
– Blackwater vs. Magnolia on Wednesday, November 11 at 4 p.m.
– Phoenix vs Rain or Shine on Wednesday, November 11 at 6:45 pm
