(PBA image)
Phoenix rediscovered its fire just in time—and Blackwater had no answer once the Fuel Masters stepped on the gas.
Shaking off the sting of a disappointing loss to Rain or Shine, Phoenix came back with more muscle, urgency and swagger, pulling away in the second half to defeat the slumping Bossing, 102-93, in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Jason Perkins led the charge with 25 points and six rebounds, but this was far from a one-man show.
Import Robert Johnson powered his way to 23 points and 12 rebounds, Gian Mamuyac delivered his best performance yet in a Phoenix jersey with 18 points, while Ricci Rivero flirted with a triple-double after collecting 10 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.
The victory pushed Phoenix to a 4-1 record, keeping the Fuel Masters perched on top of Group B and proving that their previous defeat was only a temporary stumble.
Blackwater, meanwhile, suffered its third consecutive loss and dropped to 2-3 despite another monstrous performance from Kentrell Barkley, who erupted for 36 points and grabbed a staggering 25 rebounds.
Unfortunately for the Bossing, Barkley’s heroics were not enough.
Top local scorer Sedrick Barefield endured a rough outing, finishing with only 10 points on a miserable 5-of-19 shooting clip. RK Ilagan tried to keep Blackwater alive with 20 points, seven rebounds and four assists, but Phoenix’s balanced attack proved too much to overcome.
The Bossing appeared ready to take control after moving ahead, 62-59, in the third quarter. But that lead quickly disappeared when Perkins knocked down a jumper that ignited a crucial 19-10 Phoenix surge.
Mamuyac scored six points during the run as the Fuel Masters seized a 78-72 advantage entering the final period.
Phoenix continued to apply pressure in the fourth, stretching the lead to 94-83 before slamming the door on Blackwater’s comeback hopes.
Fuel Masters coach Charles Tiu praised his players for responding with the toughness and aggression that were missing in their previous game.
“We played soft, and I think they were able to bully us and be more physical than us,” Tiu said of their loss to Rain or Shine. “So, we made sure we’d address that and be the ones that were more aggressive today.”
The adjustment was clear.
Phoenix slowed down Blackwater’s transition attack, battled for defensive stops and refused to fold whenever the Bossing threatened to make a run.
“We got some stops when it mattered, and we were able to eke out the win,” Tiu said.
For Phoenix, the victory was a loud statement that the Fuel Masters are not just early-season pretenders.
For Blackwater, the warning signs are getting harder to ignore.
With three straight defeats and Barefield struggling to find his rhythm, the Bossing must quickly rediscover their winning formula—or risk watching their Governors’ Cup campaign spiral out of control.
The Scores:
Phoenix 102 — Perkins 25, Johnson 23, Mamuyac 18, Rivero 10, Tio 8, Tuffin 6, Escandor 6, Ballungay 2, Delos Santos 2, Santos 0, Cullar 0.
Blackwater 93 — Barkley 36, Ilagan 20, Barefield 10, Austria 8, Panopio 7, Tratter 4, Una 4, Mallilin 2, Mendoza 2, Murrell 0.
Quarters: 20-22, 54-53, 78-72, 102-93.