PHOENIX turned to its outside shooting to rout NLEX, 112-77, on Saturday in the PBA 48th Season Philippine Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
The Fuelmasters nailed 17 three-pointers on their way to picking up their second win in the last three games to improve their win-loss record to 3-5.
It is also the biggest rout of Phoenix in franchise history, according to PBA statistics chief Fidel Mangonon.
RJ Jazul led a balanced scoring attack with 17 points on 6-of-9 from threes, while Kenneth Tuffin had 17 points, including a perfect 3-of-3 from rainbow country.
Phoenix also limited the league’s leading scorer Robert Bolick to 11 points after struggling with a 3-of-11 clip from the field.
The Road Warriors lost for the second straight time to drop to 5-3, a critical defeat to their bid to claim one of the two twice-to-beat incentives in the quarterfinals.
NLEX also suffered its second-worst loss in franchise history, according to Mangonon, with the 35-point beating.
The Road Warriors were able to cut the deficit to eight, 54-46, in the third, but that was the closest they got as the Fuelmasters answered with a 9-0 run.
Phoenix put the game out of reach even further when Jazul and Tuffin opened the fourth with back-to-back threes for an 85-62 lead.
Jjay Alejandro added 16 points, while Kent Salado made 11 points and dished eight assists for Phoenix.
Enoch Valdez had a team-high 16 points and nine rebounds for NLEX, which missed Dave Marcelo and Michael Miranda due to injuries.
Phoenix will go up against TNT in its next game on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
NLEX will try to break its slump against league-leader San Miguel on April 28 at the Philsports Arena.
The scores:
Phoenix 112 – Jazul 19, Tuffin 17, Alejandro 16, Salado 11, Perkins 10, Camacho 8, Rivero 8, Mocon 6, Garcia 6, Muyang 3, Daves 3, Verano 3, Lalata 2, Soyud 0.
NLEX 77 – Valdez 16, Nermal 12, Bolick 11, Fajardo 11, Amer 11, Semerad 11, Herndon 3, Anthony 1, Napoles 1, Rodger 0, Ular 0, Nieto 0, Pascual 0.
Quarters: 24-17; 51-39; 79-62; 112-77.
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