The Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters ended their killer schedule last week with a confidence-building come-from-behind win over the Magnolia Hotshots Friday.
Then came a welcome two-day breather.
And now comes the bigger, brighter news.
The Fuel Masters return to action Monday against the NLEX Road Warriors with Calvin Abueva already in tow, a major development kicking into high gear Phoenix drive for bubble glory.
The PBA Commissioner's Office has just lifted Abueva's indefinite suspension, allowing the 6-foot-3 do-it-all forward to rejoin his teammates since his banishment after his clothesline tackle on TNT import Terrence Jones in the last Governors Cup.
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On the other end of the floor as Abueva makes his way to the Smart 5G-powered AUF Sports Arena is the NLEX side that is now practically fighting for dear life in the PBA Philippine Cup elims.
The revved-up Fuel Masters (3-2) and the back-to-the-wall Road Warriors (1-4) clash at 4 p.m.
Only on Friday night, Phoenix coach Topex Robinson couldn't hold his emotion as he expressed his thoughts on going into the bubble battle with Abueva helpless by his lonesome in his room at Quest Hotel.
He dedicated their successful fightback from 17 points down against the Hotshots to Abueva.
"Winning it for Calvin is really big for us. We don't want to lose again and go back to the hotel knowing that Calvin wants to help us, and the best thing he can do is practice and cheer for us and pray for us," said Robinson.
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The Phoenix coach said the energy of the team in their fourth-quarter turnaround against the Hotshots was exactly what they were missing in their previous matches.
"The reason (we lost) during those games (was) because that's what we are missing from Calvin. The energy, and that's what the team provided us during that fourth quarter. You see everybody cheering because we know that if Calvin is on the bench, he will do the same," said Robinson.
After 15 months, the Fuel Masters will finally be in the battle with Abueva once again.
He was a key guy as the Fuel Masters had their breakthrough feat of topping the elims of the most recent all-Filipino conference.
Robinson would now have a more potent group with a possible lead group in Matthew Wright, RJ Jazul, Jason Perkins, Justin Chua and Abueva.(SB)
