PHOENIX Super LPG proved to be a huge roadblock NLEX could not overcome, leading to a runaway 112-77 by the former Saturday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Arena in Pasig.
Jayjay Alejandro and RJ Jazul took turns leading a first half assault before Kenneth Tuffin and the rest of the Fuel Masters joined in and helped the team notch its biggest win yet since taking over the Barako Bull franchise in the 2016 Commissioner's Cup.
More important, Phoenix improved to a 3-5 win-loss record that stoked its drive for a playoff spot, a target it should realize with more wins in its last three elims assignments that start with the match against TNT on Sunday.
"This is big kasi you're in the bottom of the standings, you got up and medyo gumanda-ganda tayo mo ngayon unlike before," said coach Jamike Jarin. "Pero still, a lot of work still has to be done to get to the playoffs."
Jazul led all scorers with 19 points anchored on a 6-of-9 shooting from deep with Tuffin, despite a minor spat with fellow rookie Enoch Valdez just past the halfway point of the fourth period, adding 17 markers.
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Alejandro threw in 16 markers and Kent Salado 11 on top of eight assists on a day Jason Perkins scored only 10 points but hauled down eight rebounds and issued four dimes.
Helping to at least give Jarin more warm bodies were the return to action by Raul Soyud and RR Garcia from their respective injuries.
"The good thing about it, we got Raul Soyud and RR Garcia to dress up and they were able to contribute and that's a big plus. Those were the things that went our way in this game," said Jarin.
NLEX absorbed a second straight loss, dropping it to a 5-3 slate and severely dampening its chances of clinching a top two slot at the end of the 11-game eliminations and a win-once advantage in the next round.
The Road Warriors now need to win more games in their remaining elims assignments against San Miguel Beer on Sunday, Rain or Shine (May 3) and Barangay Ginebra (May 5) to brighten their hopes.
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First, some fine-tuning must be done by NLEX on its game after its struggles on both ends of the court against Phoenix.
While the Fuel Masters went 41-of-73 from the floor, including 17-of-33 from beyond the arc, the Road Warriors shot a pedestrian 26-of-88, with six of their 11 triples coming only when the game was already beyond reach.
So dominant were the Fuel Masters that they even posted as much as a 110-71 lead before a triple by Jhan Nermal and Valdez prevented NLEX from absorbing its worst defeat yet in franchise history.
Typifying NLEX's woes was Robert Bolick being limited to just 11 points on a 3-of-13 shooting, with Valdez 's 16 points enough to lead the team in scoring.(NC)
