[ad_1]
Matthew Wright hit three in a row to give Phoenix Super LPG a close 89-88 victory over Magnolia in a rocker quarter-final match Saturday night to reach the semifinals of the PBA Philippines Cup at the Cultural Center and Sports Foundation of the University of Angeles.
With the shot clock running out after spending most of the possession fighting to protect the ball, the Fuel Masters were able to pass the ball to Wright, who calmly fired the shot past Mark Barroca to take the lead with 9.8 seconds. to be played.
Magnolia tried to respond to Wright’s 3-pointer and force a life-and-death game, but Paul Lee missed a jump back from the left side before Calvin Abueva took the rebound as time ran out.
Wright finished with 32 points, five rebounds and nine assists despite Phoenix coach Topex Robinson and his staff’s decision to take him off the bench in the contest that ultimately saw nine draws and 12 lead changes.
“It’s just magical for us,” said Robinson, who led the team to a second consecutive Philippine Cup semifinal in his first conference since being promoted from his assistant coach role.
“We are so blessed to be here, to work with one of the best teams in the league.
Phoenix will face TNT in a best-of-five semifinal series that begins Wednesday inside the Smart Clark Giga City bubble. The Tropang Giga defeated the Alaska Aces 104-83 earlier in the day to reach the semifinals.
Jason Perkins scored 16 points and six rebounds for Phoenix, who once again gave Magnolia another heartbreaking loss, although he slowed his way through the bubble.
Magnolia was up 88-86 with less than two minutes remaining on a basket from Ian Sangalang and had multiple chances to seal the win at the end.
But the Hotshots, who forced Fuel Master Calvin Abueva to deflect the ball on a rebound and get another break shortly after when he missed two free throws, flipped the ball twice, the last time when Barroca opted to make a pass rather than shoot. a jump shot.
His last-second decision led to a direct pass to Abueva, who called a timeout for Phoenix to set up Wright’s winning game.
Lee scored 17 points, while Sangalang and Barroca added 15 points each, but it wasn’t enough for the Hotshots, as they suffered an early exit in the Philippine Cup after finishing second in the previous two editions.
Scores:
PHOENIX 89 – Wright 32, Perkins 16, Jazul 9, Abueva 6, Chua 5, Ríos 5, Mallari 3, Reyes 3, Intal 3, García 2, Marcelo 0.
MAGNOLIA 88 – Lee 17, Sangalang 15, Barroca 15, Dela Rosa 11, Banchero 9, Melton 9, Jalalon 8, Reavis 4, Corpuz 0, Dionisio 0.
Quarters: 24-21, 37-39, 66-63, 89-88.
SIGN UP TO THE DAILY NEWSLETTER
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
