PHOENIX finally made it to the win column of the PBA Philippine Cup following 109-97 upset of defending champion Meralco on Sunday night.
The victory came as the Fuel Masters lost their first two games of the conference and served as a fitting welcome to veteran big man Jason Perkins, who played his first game in the All-Filipino after previously being downed with the flu.
READ: Ricci's career-high 20 points spark Phoenix upset of Meralco
The Bolts fell to an even 2-2 record.
In the main game at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Converge blew Blackwater away, 111-80.
Led by Justin Arana with 19 points and 11 rebounds, a total of five players scored in double figures for the FiberXers, who now also carried a 2-2 slate.
Blackwater meanwhile, remained winless after two games in the season-ending tournament.
Here are some takeaways in the league’s penultimate playdate before taking a break for the coming Holy Week.
1. RICCI RIVERO UNLEASHED
The third year guard played his best game in a Phoenix uniform against Meralco, coming through with a career-high 20 points spiked by a perfect 4-of-4 shooting from three-point range. He was 5-of-8 from the field overall, while adding five rebounds, and two assists.
The flamboyant guard’s significant plays had come far and few between that his presence has hardly been felt in the three years he’s been playing in the league. Perhaps this latest career-best that eclipsed his previous record high of 17 points against Converge set last year could serve as the starting point of finally seeing Rivero’s full potential.
2.CHRISTIAN DAVID FAILS TO SUSTAIN HOT START
What difference a game makes. Just a match removed from scoring 31 a conference-high points, the former no. 2 overall draft pick went scoreless in Blackwater’s 31-point blowout at the hands of Converge.
The 6-foot-6 sophomore couldn’t get going in the 22 minutes he played for the Bossing, shooting 0-for-7 from the field and 0-for-2 from the foul line. He finished however, with nine rebounds - second best in the team.
Credit goes to the FiberXers’ defense too, as they held the Bossing to just 34 percent shooting overall including a 1-of-10 stint by high-scoring rookie guard Sedrick Barefield (5 points).
3.ALEC STOCKTON'S STRUGGLES CONTINUE
The Far Eastern University point guard failed to submit double figures in scoring for the second game in a row, finishing with only four points in a rare off the bench role in the win over Blackwater, where he also added three rebounds and three assists.
In the FiberXers’ previous game against the Magnolia Hotshots, Stockton was only good for eight points in an 83-71 loss, In all, the former second round pick of Alaska in the Season 46 draft was a combined 5-of-22 in the last two games.
4.RAYMAR JOSE'S 'CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD' PERFORMANCE
Lost in Meralco's stunning upset against Phoenix was the monster 17 boards grabbed by the 6-foot-4 Jose. The numbers highligthed the Bolts' total of 59 rebounds, and almost half of the Fuel Masters' accumulated 36 boards.
He actually beat both Phoenix's big men Jason Perkins and Kai Ballungay in that category as the two combined for 13 rebounds.
The Far Eastern University product who won a UAAP men's title in 2015 and a Mythical Team member a season after, also shone on the offensive end with 12 points, one of six players to finish in double figures for Meralco.
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