PHOENIX Pulse prepared for the 2019 PBA Commissioner's Cup riding high from its first franchise semifinals appearance in the Philippine Cup with Calvin Abueva leading the way and Rob Dozier reinforcing the crew.
A month later, and it feels like the Fuel Masters are a whole different team.
Dozier's a goner no thanks to his foot injury, while Abueva is nowhere in sight owing to his PBA-sanctioned indefinite suspension.
Matthew Wright, though, maintained that Phoenix has no other recourse but to continue the process despite the abrupt changes in its squad.
"It is what it is. You really can't control what happened. All we can control is who's next up in our roster," the third-year sniper said.
Without Abueva, Wright has once again taken the role of the Fuel Masters' go-to local, topping his side in scoring with 18.4 points in a 37-percent clip from beyond the arcm on top of his 4.2 assists and 3.4 rebounds.
But it's not all on him, with the Fil-Canadian gunner also expecting other guys to step up to the plate to make up for Abueva's contributions to the squad.
"We have guys who are capable of replacing what Calvin brings, which is his energy and rebounding. And that's all we need to do," he said. "We have to find a way to come up with his 14 points and eight rebounds elsewhere from other people, and all that means is that everybody has to step up. We got guys in our team in Alex Mallari, JC Intal, and Justin Chua and we're ready whatever is thrown our way."
Wright also likes what he's seeing from replacement import Richard Howell, who has since bounced back from a lackluster return to average 25.5 points, 20.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in his last two games.
Howell, the 2014 Commissioner's Cup Best Import with TNT, even poured 24 points, 29 boards, and three assists in Phoenix's thrilling 78-76 win over Alaska last Saturday to snap its three-game losing skid and get back in the playoff race at 2-3 in the midseason conference.
"Rich has been playing well in the past few games," observed the former Gilas Pilipinas sniper. "He's in the flow of things, he's in shape, he's getting better at our plays and knowing the team and getting the chemistry down. The longer we play together, I think the better the results will be."
That's why Wright isn't really losing sleep on the current stretch the Fuel Masters are in, exuding confidence that at the end of the day, they will still be there in the thick of things for the title race.
"We know how to win. We feel like we know how to play and what needs to be done in order for us to be successful," he said. "It's just a little bit of a rough patch but I'm confident that guys are going to step up."
Phoenix returns to action on Saturday against Magnolia at Cuneta Astrodome.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
