ANTIPOLO - Phoenix Super LPG clinched a quarterfinal berth with a 105-101 win over Meralco on Friday in the PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup at the Ynares Center.
Heroes were aplenty as the Fuelmasters seized solo second in Group B with a 5-3 win-loss record after overcoming a deficit that got as high as 13 points.
With the win, Phoenix took a two-game lead over Meralco, which stayed at fourth with a 4-6 mark. Rain or Shine is at 4-3 while Barangay Ginebra and Blackwater are joint fifth with 3-5 records.
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The Bolts now await their fate after the end of their elimination round.
Phoenix stepped up in key stretches in the second half after being down, 35-22, in the second quarter.
“We challenged the team that this is not the team that we know,” said Phoenix Super LPG coach Charles Tiu about the halftime huddle. “We reminded them of our past failures. A lot of not-so-pleasant words were probably said at the half, basically challenging them not to be soft, not to be weak.
"We knew Meralco had to win this or they’ll be eliminated, and we were acting like it wasn’t an elimination game for us.”
Phoenix clinched the quarterfinals ahead of its marquee game against Barangay Ginebra, which is fighting to stave off outright elimination.
“We told them we don’t want to have to win against Ginebra to make the playoffs so really, that was the challenge for them,” said Tiu.
Ricci Rivero had 26 points and debuting import Marcellus Earlington added 20. The two combined for 21 in the fourth quarter to complete the comeback.
Meralco also lost grip of an 11-point lead, 75-64, late in the third period, with Phoenix finishing the quarter with a 10-1 blast to cut the deficit to 76-74.
A 9-0 run capped by a jumper by Gian Mamuyac with 2:34 left got Phoenix ahead, 101-91, and it never looked back.
Jordon Vardano topscored for Meralco with 36 points and seven rebounds, but its playoff hopes no longer rest on what the Bolts do alone.
The scores:
Phoenix Super LPG 105 – Rivero 26, Earlington 20, Ballungay 17, Tuffin 16, Mamuyac 13, Tio 10, Delos Santos 2, Escandor 1, Chua 0, Ando 0, Santos 0.
Meralco 101 – Varnado 36, Cansino 18, Quinto 14, Brickman 10, Newsome 7, Hodge 6, Banchero 6, Bates 4, Mocon 0.
Quarters: 20-27; 42-52; 74-76; 105-101.
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