The Phoenix Fuel Masters are 2‑0 to start the PBA Governors’ Cup after doing just enough to eke out a 98‑97 win over the Meralco Bolts on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Phoenix nearly blew a 15‑point lead but hung on in the end to give Charles Tiu his second strong start in as many conferences.
What Happened?
The Fuel Masters got off to a strong start, racing out to a 31‑22 first‑quarter lead thanks to four triples, three of which came from a red‑hot Ken Tuffin. Phoenix extended the lead to 37‑22 early in the second canto on back‑to‑back layups from Ricci Rivero and Justin Chua. Then, the Bolts rallied, eventually taking the lead at 45‑44 with three minutes left before halftime. The Bolts added to their lead, pushing it to 56‑50 entering intermission.
Phoenix rallied quickly after halftime, with Rivero scoring 9 in the first four minutes of the third. After three, Phoenix had crawled back to within 75‑73. The fourth quarter became a nip‑and‑tuck affair that featured seven ties and seven lead changes, the last one in favor of Phoenix, 98‑97, off two free throws from Tuffin. That turned out to be the final margin as CJ Cansino missed what would have been a game‑tying floater in the lane in the waning seconds of regulation.
Who Stood Out?
Aside from import BJ Johnson, who fired a game‑high 26 points, the Fuel Masters also drew strong games from Tuffin and Rivero. Tuffin sparked that early run for Phoenix and finished with 17 points, including the marginal free throws. Rivero, meanwhile, came off the bench to fire 20 points on top of 6 rebounds and 5 assists.
Meralco, who played without injured reinforcement Jordon Varnado, got plenty of production from the locals, notably Brandon Bates, CJ Cansino, and Allein Maliksi off the bench. Bates put up a 14‑point, 15‑rebound double‑double, Cansino fired 18, and Maliksi had 16.
3 Keys to the Game
- Three‑point shooting. Phoenix’s nine treys to Meralco’s five might not be a huge gap, but in a game this close, it made a difference. The Fuel Masters’ final triple, a Johnson rainbow at the 5:48 mark of the fourth, pushed Phoenix back ahead, 90‑89.
- Free throws. Points were hard to come by down the stretch, and the Fuel Masters earned enough freebies thanks to multiple trips to the line. Phoenix’s last 4 points came off free throws—splits from Tuffin and Johnson, and two clutch ones at the end from Tuffin. In all, Phoenix went 25‑for‑35 from the stripe, while Meralco shot 18‑for‑21. In a one‑point game, that gap mattered.
- Import situation. Varnado was sidelined versus Phoenix due to a minor calf strain sustained in practice, and his absence was greatly felt. Without Varnado, the Bolts played short‑handed and had no one to match up with Johnson. Meralco’s former EASL import could have made a difference down the stretch as the Bolts struggled to score.
Next Up for the PBA
Friday, July 17, 2026 | Ninoy Aquino Stadium
- Macau Giant Pandas vs. Converge FiberXers (5:15 p.m.)
- Blackwater Bossing vs. Magnolia Hotshots (7:30 p.m.)
