(PBA image)
Phoenix Super LPG rediscovered its winning touch in emphatic fashion, riding a monster performance from import James Dickey III to a commanding 125-108 rout of Blackwater in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Friday at the Ynares Center in Montalban.
Dickey delivered a near triple-double masterpiece with 27 points, 26 rebounds, and five assists, anchoring a relentless Fuel Masters attack that blew the game wide open. Phoenix built leads of as much as 28 points—twice—capping their dominance at 116-88 midway through the fourth quarter.
“I love his energy today. His motor was great,” said Phoenix coach Charles Tiu. “He rested yesterday, was a bit sore, and we wanted him fresh. Give him all the credit—he was solid protecting the basket, pushing the pace, and setting up guys like KT (Kenneth Tuffin) with those hand-offs.”
Dickey also added three steals and three blocks, imposing his will on both ends despite a handful of turnovers.
Phoenix’s depth proved just as decisive. Jason Perkins fired 25 points, while Tuffin chipped in 20 markers and seven rebounds. The Fuel Masters’ bench overwhelmed Blackwater’s reserves, 66-29, a disparity that underscored Phoenix’s control from the second quarter onward.
The win snapped a two-game slide for Phoenix, lifting its record to 4-3 and keeping its playoff hopes firmly intact.
“It just feels nice to get back with a win,” Tiu admitted. “A two-game losing streak is tough—the morale dips. We’re just happy we found a way to respond.”
Still, the Phoenix mentor remained measured.
“I think we can still get better. I’m still disappointed with how we lost to NLEX and Ginebra—we could’ve won those games. But we have a winning record, and we’re still in the hunt. That’s what matters.”
On the other side, Blackwater’s struggles deepened as it absorbed a fourth straight defeat, dropping to 1-6 and inching closer to elimination from quarterfinal contention.
Import Robert Upshaw continued to produce, pouring in a second straight 36-point outing, while Sedrick Barefield added 27. But the Bossing sorely missed the presence of injured guards Dalph Panopio (fractured finger), Jed Mendoza (calf strain), and RK Ilagan (hamstring), leaving their rotation thin.
Paul Zamar and BJ Andrade stepped up with 14 and eight points, respectively, but Blackwater failed to sustain any rhythm after a competitive start.
Their shooting woes from beyond the arc compounded their troubles. After a dismal 2-of-25 clip from three-point range in their previous loss, the Bossing were ice-cold again, hitting just 1-of-17 from deep—an inefficiency Phoenix fully exploited.
From the midpoint of the first quarter onward, the Fuel Masters took firm control and never looked back, turning the contest into a showcase of balance, energy, and execution.