SMART Clark Giga City. - RJ Jazul scored a career-high 33 points and led a three-point barrage that propelled Phoenix Super LPG past San Miguel Beer 110-103 Thursday and into the quarterfinals of the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart 5G-powered AUF Sports Arena in Angeles City.
Jazul took over when Matthew Wright was held way below his usual production, highlighting his performance with 23 of his points in the pivotal fourth quarter that fully pulled the Fuel Masters beyond the Beermen's grasp.
The former Letran Knight spiked his performance with nine of Phoenix's total 22 three-pointers, his last giving the team a safe 110-101 separation, only 13.3 ticks left.
The other Fuel Masters did their part on a night Wright was held to just 10 points, 16 below his league-leading average. He did have 10 assists and seven boards but not after having to sit out three minutes in the fourth period after an F1 call for elbowing Alex Cabagnot in the jaw.
Jason Perkins added 27 points and 10 rebounds, RR Garcia 11 points and Justin Chua hauled down a career-high 17 caroms to go with his seven points. Calvin Abueva chipped in 10 rebounds, seven points and four assists.
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Phoenix coach Topex Robinson was simply glad his charges collectively willed their way through a powerhouse team like SMB to improve their slate to 6-3 and join early qualifiers TNT and Barangay Ginebra in the last eight.
"We know that SMB is a championship-caliber team. They've been to a lot of battles. Kami bata pa kami as a team so I keep reminding everyone, including myself, to do what we prepared for, to do our gameplan," said Robinson.
"I just love how our guys are stepping up. Like RJ Jazul finally took over when Matt and Calvin were kinda guarded. It's just nice to have those guys stepping up in this kind of games."
The loss, its third in eight games, cut short SMB's four-game winning streak and slid it to fourth on a 5-3 card.
Foul-plagued Mo Tautuaa topscored with 21 points while Cabagnot and Marcio Lassiter finished with 20 apiece. Arwind Santos tallied 11 points and eight boards and Von Pessumal was only other SMB player in double figures with 10.
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The Beermen actually didn't do so bad from beyond the arc with 10 of their own, but those pale compared to the Fuel Masters' output which now stand as a franchise record along with Jazul's total trey. (NC)
The scores:
Phoenix Super LPG 110 - Jazul 33, Perkins 27, Garcia 11, Wright 10, Abueva 7, Mallari 7, Chua 7, Marcelo 3, Rios 3, Intal 2, Heruela 0, Gamboa 0, Reyes 0, Napoles 0.
SMB 103 - Tautuaa 21, Cabagnot 20, Lassiter 20, Satos 11, Pessumal 10, Ross 6, Escoto 6, Gamalinda 5, Mamaril 2, Zamar 2, Alolino 0, Vigil 0, De Guzman 0, Comboy 0.
Quarters:29-22, 52-53, 75-71, 110-103.
