IN DIRE need of a win, Phoenix stepped up to the plate in the second half to rout GlobalPort, 84-72, and improve its stand in the race for a quarterfinal slot in the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Jameel McKay once again spearheaded the Fuel Masters, tallying solid double-double numbers of 22 points and 20 rebounds.
As a result, the Fuel Masters, winners of two of their last three games, improved to 4-5 and kept in step with the teams above them.
The loss was a big blow to the Batang Pier as it fell to 2-6. It is now in deep danger of missing the top eight.
Phoenix actually trailed by 15 points in the first half, but the Fuel Masters slowly but surely took the game away from GlobalPort before bringing the hammer down in the last 24 minutes.
Meanwhile, a battle between two Goliaths are currently unfolding as of this report.
League-leading San Miguel Beer (5-0) is fighting TNT KaTropa (5-2) to keep its place up top, its unbeaten slate and more importantly, to inch closer to securing a place in the quarters.
The Beermen are playing without superstar June Mar Fajardo, while the Tropang texters are missing key players Jayson Castro, Troy Rosario and Roger Pogoy. All of them are also out due to Gilas Pilipinas commitments.
In other league developments, NLEX, in desperation to turn things around, once again involved itself in a trade.
The Road Warriors, who are already eliminated in the tournament and worse, are still winless in eight games, acquired versatile guard Alex Mallari from Mahindra in exchange for two upstart forwards in Glenn Khobuntin and Eric Camson.
The transaction was finalized and approved by the league yesterday after days of negotiations.
NLEX is looking for any sort of answers and it is hoping that Mallari can be one.
The scores:
PHOENIX 84—McKay 22, Jazul 21, Baguio 8, Lanete 6, Eriobu 6, Torres 5, Borboran 4, Alolino 4, Dehesa 4, Kramer 2, W. Wilson 2, Intal 0, J. Wilson 0.
GLOBALPORT 72—Pringle 25, White 16, Cortez 12, Aban 7, Quinahan 4, Forrester 3, Pessumal 3, Mamaril 2, Maierhofer 0, Ababou 0, Urbiztondo 0.
Quarterscores: 14-28, 27-36, 57-55, 84-72.