Two teams at the bottom of the standings—the Titan Ultra Giant Risers and the Phoenix Fuel Masters—opened PBA Philippine Cup action on Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. The Giant Risers needed a win to keep their flickering hopes alive against the also-ran Fuel Masters, and Calvin Abueva made sure his team got the victory, overcoming Phoenix, 127–119, in a thrilling endgame.
With the win, Titan Ultra hiked its slate to 4–6. Phoenix, on the other hand, dropped to 3–8.
What Happened?
Phoenix, despite being eliminated already, still started strong, winning the first quarter, 32–27, and building as much as an 11-point cushion in the first half. The Fuel Masters were still ahead, 54–44, in the latter stages of the second quarter when Titan Ultra unleashed a 12–0 run to nudge ahead.
A nip-and-tuck third quarter followed, with neither team giving an inch to the other. The Giant Risers, though, began imposing their will in the fourth, taking the lead for good, 100–99, at the eight-minute mark and then fending off Phoenix down the stretch for the all-important win.
Who Stood Out?
Calvin Abueva rose to the occasion once more, putting up a massive 35-point, 17-rebound double-double, spiked with four assists, two steals, and one block. Unlike in Titan Ultra’s losses, however, Abueva had plenty of help this time, with Joshua Munzon and Aris Dionisio chipping in 21 apiece, and Jerrick Balanza and Fran Yu coming off the bench to spark the Giant Risers. Balanza added 17 markers, while Yu had 14 points and 10 dimes.
The Fuel Masters, on the other hand, were led by Jason Perkins’ 24 points, five rebounds, and seven assists, as he matched Abueva’s playmaking and intensity. Tyler Tio was superb as well, quarterbacking Phoenix with 16 markers and 10 assists.
3 Keys to the Game
- Free-throw shooting. Munzon and Abueva kept attacking the Phoenix defense and got to the line a combined 22 times, with The Beast making seven and Munzon hitting nine. In all, the relentless Giant Risers attempted 41 freebies and made 32, compared to Phoenix’s 16 made free throws on 28 attempts.
- Balanced attack. For much of this conference, Abueva has been a one-man show, but that was not the case against Phoenix. The Beast had plenty of help, starting with the duo of Munzon and Dionisio. Fran Yu and Balanza came up huge, too, as did Cade Flores, who also came off the bench and scattered 11 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
- Fast-break scoring. Titan Ultra and Phoenix were more or less even in most major statistical categories, but the Giant Risers held a 25–15 advantage in fast-break points. Speeding things up allowed Titan Ultra to score easy baskets and control the tempo.
Next Up for the PBA
The PBA Philippine Cup continues with a special Monday offering at Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Bahrain. This out-of-country game will see the Magnolia Hotshots take on the league-leading Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in a showdown with top-four ramifications.
Rain or Shine vs. Magnolia (11:55 p.m.)
