Calvin Abueva soared above everybody else for a big offensive rebound then delivered the game-winning putback as Phoenix Pulse grinded out a 93-92 win in overtime over Meralco in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.
"Patience is a virtue talaga. The whole game yung sabihin na masama ang laro ni Calvin eh understatement. Less than 50 percent sya sa free throws. Yung field goal ang baba din. Pero yung mga assistants ko sabi pagpasensyahan ko at kakailanganin ko sa dulo," said Phoenix coach Louie Alas.
Deliver in the end Abueva did as the Fuel Masters got to a triumphant tournament start, avenging a sorry loss to the Bolts in the recent Governors Cup quarterfinals.
The Fuel Masters then enjoyed a twice-to-beat advantage as the playoffs second seeds. But they were twice beaten by the Bolts.
"Di ako mahilig sa vengeance. Gusto ko lang manalo. Pero sabi ko sa mga players kung makakapaganda ng laro nila ang isipin yung talo namin the last time, so be it," Alas said.
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Justin Chua came through with a new career high of 24 points while Matthew Wright, Jason Perkins and Alex Mallari were three others who hit in double figures.
But the Fuel Masters needed Abueva's heroics at endgame to salvage the game that they dominated early on, leading by as many as 18 at 31-13.
"Kinailangan namin ng resilience. Siguro isang overtime pa, puro cramps na lahat," said Alas of the grind-out battle marked by eight lead changes and five deadlocks that started after the Bolts caught up early in the fourth.
Even then, the Fuel Masters had their chances to win the game right in regulations but missed three field-goal attempts in the last 32 seconds.
The two teams continued to engage in a nip-and-tuck battle until the Fuel Masters won it on Abueva's putback of a Chua miss.
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Abueva was 1-of-12 from the field before making the winning shot.
Nico Salva fired a career high 22 points to pace the Bolts that also drew double-digit outputs from Chris Newsome (20), Baser Amer (10) and Ranidel de Ocampo (10). (SB)
The scores:
Phoenix 93 - Chua 24, Wright 18, Perkins 13, Mallari 11, Abueva 9, Intal 8, Marcelo 6, Kramer 2, Jazul 2, Revilla 0, Mendoza 0, Gamboa 0, Dennison 0.
Meralco 92 - Salva 22, Newsome 20, Amer 10, De Ocampo 10, Hugnatan 9, Hodge 8, Faundo 4, Pinto 3, Dillinger 2, Tolomia 2, Quinto 2, Jackson 0, Jamito 0, Canaleta 0, Car 0.
Quarters: 23-9, 41-34, 64-60, 83-83, 93-92.
