PHOENIX turned off its self-destruct mode this time around to kick off its fine start to the new year through a 122-108 win over Terrafirma Tuesday in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the PhilSports Arena.
Donovan Smith scored 37 points on top of seven rebounds and five blocks while keeping the Fuel Masters together when they appeared to be headed for another meltdown after nearly blowing as much as a 16-point lead.
Jason Perkins, Tyler Tio, Kai Ballungay and Ricci Rivero headed the Phoenix locals who heeded Smith's call and helped the team snap out of a two-game slide while improving to a 2-5 record overall.
"I just think our team as a whole did a really good job today," said Smith, who scattered 10 of his points in the fourth period that fueled Phoenix's steady surge from an 88-84 count after three periods.
"I was a lot more vocal on the floor and so I think that contributed to us winning. Just holding guys accountable and having the guys holding me accountable as well on both sides of the floor," added Smith. "I feel that's the biggest reason why we won today, because we played together for 48 minutes."
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Phoenix coach Jamike Jarin was not stingy when heaping praises on his reinforcement, who played through an unspecified illness in their back-to-back losses to NorthPort and Converge, after airing the biggest reason why they almost lost a 67-51 third quarter spread.
"We really needed to get it together, especially defensively. We were very disappointed in the first quarter and in the third quarter because we gave up a lot of points," said Jarin.
"It's still a learning process for everybody, but a lot of credit goes to this guy (Smith). I'm just so blessed to have him. People don't know kasi in the two games before our break he's sick. He just kept playing with it because he knows he's very valuable and he's a team player. So we're just fortunate and blessed that we have a Donovan Smith as our import."
The loss, its eighth in as many games, practically shut the door on Terrafirma's bid to get past the 12-game eliminations.
Despite failing to score in the second quarter, Brandon Edwards still finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds while Louie Sangalang submitted a new career-best for the second straight game with 22 points.
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Brent Paraiso, Mark Nonoy and the comebacking Kemark Carino each chipped in at least 11 points, but the Dyip still lost after failing to follow up a 35-point third quarter that made it just a four-point game going to the last 12 minutes of play.
Terrafirma still kept within 91-96, but Smith's eight points sparked and helped fuel a massive 20-11 exchange that gave Phoenix an irrepressible 116-102 cushion going to the last 1:58 of play. (NC)
