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MANILA – Behind an impressive performance by Matt Wright, Phoenix took another step towards his first appearance in the Philippine Basketball Association final after beating TNT, 92-89, in Game 4 of their semifinal tie at the Cultural and Sports Center of the University of Angeles Foundation.
Still plagued by an ankle injury he sustained in Game 1, Wright, playing off the bench, lost 25 points, including huge baskets that helped keep the Fuel Masters at bay at Tropang Giga.
Wright scored on a triple with 3:03 left that capped the team’s 8-2 run to put them up 88-81.
TNT would still struggle, cutting the lead to one, 90-89, with 40 seconds to play, but Wright scored on a change jump to put the lead to three with 22 seconds to go.
Tropang Giga had two chances to force extra time, but RR Pogoy and Jayson Castro missed three-point attempts at the end.
Wright made 10 of 19 shots from the field and also had three rebounds, three assists and one steal for the Fuel Masters, who can finish the series on Wednesday night.
Calvin Abueva added 24 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, four steals and a block.
Ray-Ray Parks had 19 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and one steal for Tropang Giga, who need to win Game 4 to stay alive in the series and force the rubber game on Friday night.
Cash Scores:
Phoenix 92 – Wright 25, Abueva 24, Perkins 11, Jazul 11, Chua 8, Intal 5, Napoles 3, Ríos 3, Mallari 2, Heruela 0, García 0, Marcelo 0, Gamboa 0
TNT 89 – Parks 19, Enciso 16, Rosario 14, Castro 12, Pogoy 8, Erram 6, Montalbo 6, Reyes 5, Washington 3, Semerad 0, Carey 0
Quarterscores: 23-24, 49-47, 73-69, 92-89 (PNA)
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