The Charles Tiu era is off to a winning start after the Phoenix Fuel Masters overcame the Magnolia Hotshots, 101-98, in PBA Commissioner’s Cup action on Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
What Happened?
Magnolia scored the first four points of the game before Phoenix took the lead with an early 9-0 run. The Fuel Masters were still ahead, 27-18, before the Hotshots scored the opening frame’s final five points. A tight second quarter then unfolded, with Magnolia finally catching up with Phoenix at 43 before taking a 50-48 advantage to intermission.
Out of halftime, Phoenix import James Dickey III started strong, personally outscoring Magnolia, 8-3, early to retake the lead for the Fuel Masters and set the stage for a strong third quarter. Kai Ballungay then got into the scoring, firing 8 points to help stake Phoenix to an 81-72 lead going into the payoff period.
The Fuel Masters appeared to be cruising to their first win after taking a 92-79 lead at the halfway mark of the fourth, only for Magnolia to get to within 98-96 on a Jerom Lastimosa lay-in. But an Evan Nelle bucket in the ensuing possession and a missed four-pointer by Lastimosa sealed the deal for Phoenix.
Who Stood Out?
Dickey was a beast inside for Phoenix, firing 21 points to go along with his 26 boards. He also had 5 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block as he looked like a perfect fit for the Fuel Masters. Jason Perkins was also solid off the bench, adding 19 points on an efficient 7-for-10 clip.
Dickey’s counterpart, Nuni Omot, wasn’t too shabby either, finishing with 27 markers and 6 rebounds. But it was Jerom Lastimosa who really stood out for Magnolia with his 18 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal.
3 Keys to the Game
- Offensive rebounding. Magnolia actually shot better—47.9% to Phoenix’s 42.2%—from the field, but the Fuel Masters evened things out by crashing the offensive glass, grabbing 26 compared with just 7 for the Hotshots. That resulted in a 13-3 difference in second-chance points.
- Bench play. Phoenix’s subs were spectacular on Friday, outplaying their Magnolia counterparts and outscoring them, 46-22. Perkins led the way with 19, but Ken Tuffin (12) and Evan Nelle (10) also gave the Fuel Masters a spark off the bench.
- Interior scoring. With Perkins, Ballungay, and Dickey all attacking the basket, Phoenix unsurprisingly got 56 of its total points in the paint. Magnolia, on the other hand, scored just 46 inside for a 10-point difference.
Next Up for the PBA
Saturday, March 14, 2026 | Ynares Center Montalban
Converge FiberXers vs. Terrafirma Dyip (5:00 p.m.)
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters vs. Macau Black Knights (7:30 p.m.)
