PHOENIX Super LPG's brave young crew starred in a swashbuckling finish as the Fuel Masters stole a 113-101 win over the NLEX Road Warriors in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday night.
Jayjay Alejandro scored all but three of his 18-point output in the fourth quarter and rookie Ricci Rivero had his clutch hits, sparking a key binge that led to a huge turnaround for the Fuel Masters that trailed for most of the first three quarters.
Curiously, import Jonathan Williams III was resting on the bench when the Fuel Masters hit their strides and overcame what was once a 16-point deficit.
Williams struggled with an 11-of-21 clip and committed eight turnovers, but the Phoenix locals stepped up and rescued the team against Thomas Earl Robinson and his NLEX teammates.
Before Alejandro and Rivero took over, there were Tyler Tio, Ken Tuffin and Javee Mocon leading the fight for coach Jamike Jarin's troops.
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Tio put in 17 points, eight assists and three rebounds, Mocon came through with 11 markers, eight boards and three assists while Tuffin got away with 16 points, six rebounds and four assists in a sterling PBA debut.
Alejandro and Rivero, however, stole the thunder in the end on their fourth-quarter rampage.
The Fuel Masters trailed 49-60 at the half and were still in trouble at 86-78 at the start of the fourth, then Alejandro and Rivero fuelled their 35-15 blasting of the Road Warriors in the final canto.
Rivero scored eight in the final frame and finished with 15 markers and four rebounds against three turnovers.
For NLEX, Don Trollano and Kevin Alas led the scoring parade among the locals with 20 and 18 points, respectively.
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Sean Anthony added 15 markers plus nine rebounds and four assists. (SB)
The Scores:
Phoenix 113 - Williams 26, Alejandro 18, Tio 17, Tuffin 16, Rivero 15, Mocon 11, Jazul 5, Muyang 3, Daves 2, Soyud 0, Camacho 0, Perkins 0, Verano 0, Manganti 0.
NLEX 101 - Robinson 26, Trollano 20, Alas 18, Anthony 15, Semerad 9, Nieto 6, Marcelo 3, Rodger 2, Miranda 2, Rosales 0, Herndon 0.
Quarters: 27-25, 49-60, 78-86, 113-101
