The Phoenix Fuel Masters dealt the Terrafirma Dyip a 133–105 beating on Wednesday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. It was the Fuel Masters’ third win in four games to start the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, while dealing the Dyip their first loss after a pristine 3–0 start.
What Happened?
Phoenix started strong, zooming ahead, 13–4 and 15–6, on the strength of three triples—one each from Ricci Rivero, Evan Nelle, and Will Gozum. But Terrafirma rallied to slice that early lead to 25–23 after one. The Dyip then built their own nine-point lead in the second quarter and were still up, 41–36, before Rivero fired 14 big points—including nine in a row off a trio of treys—in a 20–5 run to stake Phoenix to a 56–46 lead to end the first half.
The Fuel Masters continued their excellent play in the third, outscoring Terrafirma, 11–4, to push the lead to 17 after just three minutes of action following intermission. Phoenix continued piling up the points and hitting from downtown to build a 96–73 cushion after three quarters. There was to be no epic comeback from the Dyip in this game, as the Fuel Masters continued to connect from deep and hung 37 more points in the fourth en route to the blowout.
Who Stood Out?
Rivero was an absolute stud in this game, firing a career-high 40 points on 14-for-22 from the field and 7-for-9 from the arc. His 14 points in Phoenix’s 20–5 run to end the first half set the tone for the team’s comeback and eventual pull-away in the third. He added 6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals.
Over at Terrafirma, Jerrick Ahanmisi tried to keep the Dyip in the game, scoring 37 big points of his own, on top of 4 assists and 2 steals. He was also 5-for-9 from downtown. Unfortunately, he had little help, as import Mubashar Ali mustered only 13 markers.
3 Keys to the Game
- Three-point shooting. Phoenix shot the lights out from distance against Terrafirma, hitting 19 of their 41 attempts from the arc for an incredible 46.3% clip. The Fuel Masters even got two four-pointers from Evan Nelle in their 40-point third quarter, while Rivero was unconscious from deep.
- Ricci Rivero. One of the breakout stars of Season 50 thus far, Rivero continued to impress, this time with his sensational scoring and improved shooting. His three straight treys just prior to halftime changed the game, and his overall floor game proved hard to stop.
- Bench play. While Rivero and the starters played exceptional basketball, Phoenix also got plenty of contributions from its bench, starting with Francis Escandor and his career-best 20 markers on three triples. Prince Caperal added 11, also on treys, as the Phoenix reserves outscored their Dyip counterparts, 54–36.
Next Up for the PBA
Friday, March 27, 2026 | Smart Araneta Coliseum
Meralco Bolts vs. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (5:00 p.m.)
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel vs. NLEX Road Warriors (7:30 p.m.)
