MONTALBAN, Rizal - Phoenix snapped a four-game losing streak, outclassing Terrafirma, 107-76, in a battle of league strugglers on Wednesday in the PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center II.
Kai Ballungay put together a 19-point, 12-rebound double-double for the Fuelmasters, who went on a 10-0 start and never once relinquished the lead to rise out of the cellar and impove to 2-5 (win-loss).
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Phoenix also limited Terrafirma leading scorer Jerrick Ahanmisi to only two points on 1-of-8 shooting and dealt the Dyip their sixth defeat in seven games.
The game marked a rare occasion when two sets of brothers were on the same floor in Ricci and Prince Rivero, and Jerrick and Maverick Ahanmisi.
Maverick, who arrived in a trade from Barangay Ginebra, scored four points in 11 minutes in his Terrafirma debut.
The lead bloated even more in the fourth when Phoenix outscored Terrafirma, 23-8.
“Again, bata pa ‘yung team. We are trying to figure out close games,” said Phoenix coach Willy Wilson. “Adjustment period not only for myself but the players as well.”
Paolo Hernandez topscored for Terrafirma with 14 points, while Louie Sangalang had 13 points but the Dyip trailed by as many as 32 points and shot only 31 percent from the field.
The scores:
Phoenix 107 – Ballungay 19, Rivero 16, Perkins 12, Santos 12, Tuffin 9, Tio 7, Daves 6, Jazul 6, Escandor 5, Nelle 4, Garcia 4, Kwekuteye 3, Ando 2, Manganti 1, Caperal 1.
Terrafirma 76 – Hernandez 14, Sangalang 13, Mariano 11, Paraiso 10, Hanapi 9, Catapusan 5, M. Ahanmisi 4, Bravo 3, J. Ahanmisi 2, Rivero 2, Garcia 2, Olivario 1, Zaldivar 0.
Quarters: 37-20; 58-47; 84-68; 107-76.
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