Wright gets hot as Phoenix stuns Meralco

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IT SURE looks like Matthew Wright is ready to step in as Phoenix’s future right now.

Wright spiked a teamhigh 22 points with some big plays in the fourth quarter in leading the Fuel Masters to a skid-stopping 94-90 win over Meralco last night in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.

Veteran Cyrus Baguio were also among those who came up huge, but it was the 25-year-old Fil-Canadian who sparkled the most in the payoff period as Phoenix bucked the absence of some key personnel and Meralco’s tough stance.

Wright scattered 14 of his points in the fourth, laced with some-run-sparking baskets and three charities off the last two of his eight rebounds in the stretch that practically sealed the deal for Phoenix.

As a result, the Fuel Masters snapped out of a two-game slide to improve to an even 3-3 slate overall and are now again inside the magic eight circle advancing to the playoffs following the 11-game eliminations.

“I am just relieved,” said Phoenix coach Ariel Vanguardia, whose team got walloped by Star and TNT KaTropa in its last two games.

“We lost to the last two games by an average of 31 points and those have given us tremendous pressure. It’s like sleepless nights for all of us.”

Some pressure has now been eased, added Vanguardia. “Going to the halfway point (of the eliminations) we’re 2-3,” he pointed out.

“We’re not out. On our sixth game, I told them to just forget about what happened before and let’s just start 0-0.”

Rookie Jonathan Grey came off the bench to score a career-high 24 points while Reynel Hugnatan added 15 and Cliff Hodge a double-double of 12 points and 11 boards. Even Ed Daquioag, a Gilas Cadet like Wright, finished with 11 markers.

But Chris Newsome, usually good for 18.25 points and 9.25 rebounds, was held to just two points on 1-for-9 shooting. He did have five boards and eight assists as Meralco dropped to 2-3.

In comparison, Phoenix missed the services of JC Intal and his average of 16.4 points as he showed up in uniform but complained of difficulty in breathing and did not play. Fellow veteran Willy Wilson also sat it out due to a hamstring injury.

But the other Fuel Masters readily answered the call.

Mark Borboran wound up with 17 points and eight rebounds while Baguio finished with 11 points and 10 boards and his clutch triple countered that of Grey to push Phoenix back on top 91-90, 1:12 left to play, before Wright polished Meralco off.

Even Gelo Alolino, Chico Lanete, Marvin Hayes and John Wilson did their part as Phoenix, which led by eight early, staged a fightback from as much as 59-71 down.

Lanete and Alolino had four points each and Wright three during an 11-0 run opening up the fourth quarter that brought the Fuel Masters back on top 76-75, before the game took on a back-and-forth complexion in the next seven minutes.

POST GAME INTERVIEW

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