By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Phoenix Super LPG Fuelmasters pulled-off the necessary adjustments to tame the surging Blackwater Elite, 100-96, in their PBA bubble showdown.
Down by 16 and facing the largest deficit of the game, coach Topex Robinson made crucial adjustments in Phoenix’s defensive scheme that allowed his squad to erase the deficit and get back into the game in the fourth quarter.
Justin Chua played quality minutes and was the main defensive anchor for Phoenix underneath after swatting away 5 shots while scoring 7 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
Entering the final frame, the perked up Fuelmasters were able to trim down the deficit to just three, 70-67, after Matthew Wright and Calvin Abueva took matters into their own hands.
Wright scored 17 huge points including timely three-pointers and clutch free throws in the last 1 minute of the ball game. Abueva’s production was also a key in the Fuelmasters’ come-from-behind victory after scoring 17 points and grabbing 13 boards.
KG Canaleta looked to lift the young guns after posting 21 points for the Elite but his scoring wasn’t enough to carry his team to the victory.
“We talked about accountability. Accountability is everybody’s responsibility. We have to keep our culture from who we are and what we stand for. They just kept on talking and talking and communicating and finding ways to win because they know that they are accountable to what we are trying to build here,” said coach Robinson.
