PHOENIX coach Charles Tiu praised the Fuel Masters for showing an ability to overcome adversity in its buildup for the PBA 50th Season Commissioner’s Cup.
The Fuel Masters beat Magnolia by three points after overcoming a 19-point deficit in a tune-up game on Saturday - a victory over a traditional playoff contender that augurs well for the rebuilding team.
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“The good thing was we didn’t give up despite being down by 19,” said Tiu, who was named to replace Willy Wilson prior to the conference. “Ricci Rivero was solid. We made some threes and played better defense in the second half.”
Phoenix's first win in a tune-up game atoned for a loss to a Meralco side that played four imports in Justin Brownlee, on-loan Cady Lalanne, Ismael Romero, and Sina Vahedi as the latter prepared for its EASL contest against Ryukyu Golden Kings.
The Fuel Masters had James Dickey as their lone import but he held his own against his three Meralco counterparts.
Tiu is entering his first few weeks since he was officially appointed as Phoenix head coach last January 20 after the Fuel Masters went 3-8 win-loss in the Philippine Cup in their lone conference under Wilson.
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