Jason Perkins drained two charities with 7.2 seconds left then Phoenix Pulse put a crucial stoppage as the Fuel Masters squeezed out a 98-96 win over a crippled but fierce-fighting NorthPort team in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday.
Perkins broke the 96-all count on his free throws then the Fuel Masters applied a swarming defense to complete the win, enabling the team to put one foot into the post-elims play.
"Our character defensively, nag-i-improve. Four of our six won games, galing sa defensive stop," said Phoenix coach Louie Alas who also mentioned the absence of Stanley Pringle as a big break they enjoyed in the game.
"Thank you, Pringle," said Alas of the NorthPort main man serving a one-game suspension incurred for hitting JayR Reyes during the NorthPort-Columbian Dyip tuneup match on Feb. 19.
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Still, the Fuel Masters needed to work hard to overcome the Batang Pier for their sixth win against a lone defeat suffered in their last game against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters before the tourney took a break to give way to the final window of the FIBA World Cup qualifier.
"Malaking tulong sa amin yung break. Naipahinga ko yung mga players ko including Calvin Abueva and Matthew Wright. May mga activities din kaming nagawa to improve the chemistry of the team," Alas said.
Alas also admitted they got a crucial break on officiating towards the end of the match.
The count stood at 96-all when Sean Anthony drained a three-pointer off Justin Chua with 47.8 seconds to go. However, the refs whistled an offensive foul to nullify the basket.
Wright was called an offensive infraction in the next play then Ryan Arana misfired a three-pointer before Perkins eventually shattered the 96-all count on two charities off a foul by Moala Tautuaa with 7.2 ticks to go.
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The Batang Pier failed to recover from there and reeled to a third loss against two wins.
Wright had poured in 22 points before picking a sixth foul.
Justin Chua had his own big game with 19 markers plus nine rebounds while Calvin Abueva, Perkins and RJ Jazul chipped in 14, 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Minus Pringle, Tautuaa, Anthony, Nico Elorde, Robert Bolick and Paolo Taha shared the scoring load for NorthPort, all delivering double-digit outputs.
Tautuaa piled up 22 markers that went with eight rebounds and seven assists while Anthony came through with 20 points and nine boards.
The Batang Pier put in an admirable stand minus their top gun, dragging the Fuel Masters to a battle marked by eight lead changes and six deadlocks. (SB)
The scores:
Phoenix 98 - Wright 22, Chua 19, Abueva 14, Perkins 12, Jazul 10, Revilla 9, Mallari 7, Kramer 2, Dennison 2, Marcelo 1, Guevarra 0, Napoles 0, Mendoza 0.
NorthPort 96 - Tautuaa 22, Anthony 20, Elorde 15, Bolick 10, Taha 10, Guinto 8, Arana 6, Grey 3, Lanete 2, Flores 0, Sollano 0.
Quarters: 20-13, 41-38, 67-63, 98-96.
