THE Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters snatched their second straight win with a gritty 110-105 win over the NorthPort Batang Pier in the PBA Philippine Cup on Thursday night, October 15, 2020, at the AUF Sports Arena & Cultural Center in Pampanga.
The Fuel Masters got clutch shots from stalwarts Jason Perkins and Matthew Wright, and reserve Jansen Rios to help stave off the Batang Pier and secure their second win in as many games, while sending NorthPort down to 0-2 for the season.
Up by as much as 14, Phoenix let off the gas pedal and NorthPort took advantage to tie the game up at 88-all with 7:46 left in the ballgame. Perkins responded with a bucket while Rios scored a jumper and three-pointer to raise Phoenix’s lead to seven, 95-88.
NorthPort kept on coming and pulled to within four, 99-103, after a deuce by Christian Standhardinger but Wright shut the door with a huge triple from straightaway that gave Phoenix a seven-point cushion with just 56 ticks to go.
Perkins scored 31 points and grabbed 12 rebounds while Wright flirted with a triple-double with 23 points, seven boards and nine assists. Big man Justin Chua had 17 points including a pair of three-pointers in the fourth. The Ateneo product also made a huge impact on the defensive end with three blocks.
NorthPort got usual contributions from Standhardinger, who had 28 points, 11 boards and five assists, and Sean Anthony, who had a triple-double of 23 points, 12 boards and 10 assists in the loss.