August 17, 2017

Phoenix counts on replacement import Brown to arrest skid

LIKE its mythological counterpart, Phoenix is bent on rising from the ashes.

But the Fuel Masters have to do it without Eugene Phelps and against a Meralco Bolts side also gunning for a big rebound when they clash Friday in the resumption of the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

A victory by Phoenix will snap it out of a three-game slide while Meralco aims to bounce back from a 94-100 loss to NLEX last Sunday that halted the Bolts' 4-0 start to the season-ending tourney.

Key for the Fuel Masters is how Brandon Brown holds the fort while Phelps recovers from the foot injury he aggravated in the course of an 86-92 loss to Blackwater last Aug. 6.

Brown has big shoes to fill since Phelps has been averaging 27.60 points, 16 rebounds and almost three assists per game.

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It is not only the 32-year-old Brown, a journeyman forward who last played in Turkey and signed to a 15-day contract, who would be trying to fit in quickly with the Fuel Masters.

Jeff Chan has also come in from Rain or Shine in exchange for Mark Boroboran and a future second round pick in a trade approved two Mondays ago while Dylan Ababou is another new Fuel Master after being acquired from GlobalPort in a trade involving Cyrus Baguio last Tuesday.

"We consider this a fresh new start," said Phoenix coach Ariel Vanguardia. "Zero-zero mentality since we've got new players and will try new schemes."

Since that loss to NLEX, Meralco has had some time to learn how to play without Baser Amer and Mike Tolomia, who are with the national team to the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games, and Cliff Hodge, who missed the Road Warriors game due to a sprain and will continue to sit it out.

Still, Bolts coach Norman Black remains confident his remaining charges have what it takes to get the job done.

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"It will be a game where the entire team will have to pull together to overcome adversity," said Black.

"Our bench will have to step up and Allen Durham will have to lead the group," added Black. "We will just go out and give our best."

Durham has indeed been playing like the reigning Best Import that he is, averaging 24.4 points, 18.6 boards and 7.2 dimes an outing.

Even Durham, however, needs support from the likes of Jared Dillinger, Chris Newsome, Reynel Hugnatan and Garvo Lanete.

For Phoenix, equally crucial would be the contributions from the likes of RJ Jazul, JC Intal, Willie Wilson and Gelo Alolino.