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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
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04
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27
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2024
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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
04
27
2024
PHOENIX coach Ariel Vanguardia has compared his playmakers to the box of chocolate in the film, “Forrest Gump.”
“You dont know what you’re gonna get,” said Vanguardia.
Simon Enciso gave Vanguardia a pleasant surprise by joining hands with Eugene Phelps in leading the Fuel Masters to a 93-81 victory over Blackwater Wednesday that moved them closer to the PBA Governors Cup quarterfinals at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Enciso, acquired from NLEX just before the conference, scored 10 of his 12 points in the decisive fourth
quarter in helping Phoenix finally go beyond the reach of a gritty Blackwater fighting to keep its season alive.
Phelps did his usual part, notching his third 20-20 game in six outings in leading the Fuel Masters score their third straight win and fifth in nine games overall that put them at fifth-running spot.
Phoenix wind up the eliminations against Alaska on Saturday and Ginebra next Wednesday, needing to win at least once to realize their first-ever playoffs appearance. Win both and they may have a shot at a top four finish and a twice-to-beat advantage in the next round.
Vanguardia was not totally satisfied with his team’s 16 assists – five below its conference’s fourth-best average – as against 24 turnovers, however.
“We’ll take this win, although it was not a quality game for us,” said Vanguardia, who took over the team only before the season-ending tournament started.
“I think this is the lowest assists total we’ve had this conference,”Vanguardia added. “My point guards are like the box of chocolate in the film Forrest Gump. You dont know what you’re gonna get.”
That simply won’t do if the former Barako Bull squad hopes to go deep, according to Vanguardia.
“If we’re gonna face the elite teams like Alaska, which is gonna pressure us the whole game, and Ginebra with LA (Tenorio)and Scottie Thompson, Sol Mercado, we will struggle,” said Vanguardia.
“So I’m challenging my point guards starting today to run this team. Today it wasn’t a quality game for them.”
There are plenty of positives for Phoenix, however.
“Hulog ng langit si Phelps,” said Vanguardia of the burly import who came in as replacement for Marcus Simmons.
“Slowly but surely Cyrus gives us stability at the 2. Iyung mga point guards kung maganda ang laro meron kaming mararating. Against the elite teams kailangan naming makatulong ang mga ppoint guards. From start to finish kailangan maganda laro nila.”
And there is Enciso, who missed six of his 11 field goal tries, but issued four dimes and went without a turnover in just a little over 28 minutes of action in complementing Phelps’ 29 points, 26 assists and four feeds.
Mark Borboran added 15 points after hitting his first four shots with Cyrus Baguio chipping in 10 points.
Arthur dela Cruz and Carlo Lastimosa each scored 18 points to lead Blackwater, which drew 14 points and eight rebounds from new import Keala King, but could not prevent a seventh straight loss.
With a 1-8 slate overall, the cellar-dwelling Elite formally bowed out of the race for the quarterfinals for the second straight conference and fifth in six tournaments with the league.
Not after putting up one whale of a fight that saw Blackwater withstanding King’s early foul trouble and Phoenix’s first quarter surge to make a game of it and keep within 61-65 entering the fourth period.
But the Fuel Masters were simply too stocked with Enciso leading the breakaway from a 62-65 count with seven of his points and Phelps fueling the charge with eight of his.
Borboran’s short stab, Josh Urbiztondo’s corner triple and Phelps’ two charities gave the Fuel Masters a 92-78 spread that the Elite would hardly dent in the final 1:50 of the game.
The Scores:
PHOENIX 93 – Phelps 29, Borboran 15, Enciso 12, Baguio 10, Buenafe 8, W. Wilson 7, Urbiztondo 6, Caperal 3, Cruz 2, Pennisi 1, Lee 0, Lanete 0, J. Wilson 0, Miranda 0.
BLACKWATER 81 – Dela Cruz 18, Lastimosa 18, King 14, Pinto 9, Miranda 8, Sena 6, Gamalinda 4, Golla 2, Pascual 2, Eguilos 0, Reyes 0, Sumang 0.
Quarters: 25-20, 47-41, 65-61, 93-81.
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