The Phoenix Fuel Masters rallied past the Meralco Bolts on Friday for a crucial 105-101 victory at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. The win is Phoenix’s fifth against two losses and clinched for the Fuel Masters a quarterfinals spot in the PBA Governors’ Cup. The loss dropped the Bolts to 4-6 in Group B, and they are now awaiting the results of the remaining games to determine their fate.
What Happened?
Meralco took an early nine-point lead to start the opening frame after unleashing an 11-0 blitz to answer Phoenix’s basket to open the game. The Bolts eventually won the first, 27-20, behind Jordon Varnado, CJ Cansino, and Brandon Bates. Varnado and Cansino continued to fire away in the second canto and led the Bolts to a 25-20 quarter and a 52-42 bubble entering intermission.
Varnado and company remained in control up until the halfway mark of the third, when they built their biggest lead, 65-52. Consecutive treys from Ken Tuffin, Kai Ballungay, and Tyler Tio got Phoenix back into the game, 65-61, only for Meralco to push the lead back to 75-66. But the Fuel Masters ended the third on an 8-1 run—six coming from Tuffin—to move to within 76-74 heading into the fourth.
Ricci Rivero tied the game at 76 just seconds into the final frame to set up an intense fourth quarter that saw Phoenix finally take the lead, 81-80, on a Rivero three-point play. The Fuel Masters kept the lead between one and five points in the succeeding minutes before extending it to 101-91 at the 2:38 mark thanks to a 9-0 blast after the Bolts had threatened at 92-91. That 10-point bubble ultimately proved insurmountable.
Who Stood Out?
Rivero starred for Phoenix, as he has done so many times in Season 50. The explosive guard erupted for 26 big points to go along with 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks in an all-around masterclass. New import Marcellus Earlington acquitted himself well in his PBA debut, finishing with 20 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 assists on top of a fine fourth quarter. The Fuel Masters also got a lift from Ballungay and Tuffin, with the former tallying 17 points on 6-for-9 shooting and the latter adding 16 points and 10 boards.
Meralco, meanwhile, leaned on Varnado’s game-high 36 points to go along with 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Cansino also starred, coming off the bench and contributing 18 points and 5 rebounds.
3 Keys to the Game
- Trey ball. Phoenix got a big boost from the trey ball as it knocked down 9 from distance compared to just 4 for Meralco. Those three straight triples in the third, in particular, proved crucial as they helped the Fuel Masters get back into the game and build some momentum.
- Strong fourth. Surprisingly, the younger Phoenix side proved steadier in the fourth quarter, with Earlington, Tuffin, and Rivero all coming up clutch in winning time. That 31-point finish capped off a rally that began after halftime.
- Starters. Charles Tiu got big performances from his starters, all of whom scored at least 10 points. In all, the Phoenix starting unit outscored its counterparts from Meralco, 89-71, and that difference proved decisive.
Next Up for the PBA
Saturday, October 17, 2026 | Ynares Center Antipolo
Titan Ultra Giant Risers vs. Terrafirma Dyip (5:15 p.m.)
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters vs. Blackwater Bossing (7:30 p.m.)
