PHOENIX made free throws when it needed them the most to complete its comeback against an import-less Meralco, 98-97, for its second straight win in the PBA Governors Cup on Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ken Tuffin and import BJ Johnson scored four free throws in the final 64 seconds to erase a 94-97 deficit and give the Fuel Masters the lead in a game where they let as much as a 15-point lead slip away.
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CJ Cansino then missed on a driving layup in the final offensive of the Bolts, who were without import Jordon Varnado due to an injury.
“Lucky break, we caught Meralco without an import and we didn’t want to let it slip away,” said Phoenix coach Charles Tiu. “Give credit to them though, they really played well and they could have easily won this game.”
The Bolts indeed, were still in the driver’s seat with 1:19 left after a split by Brandon Bates gave them a 97-94 lead.
But Meralco didn’t score another point from thereon, while the Fuel Masters went to Tuffin and Johnson for the all-important free throws.
Tuffin, who finished with 17 points and seven rebounds, buried two from the foul line in the last 13 seconds to put Phoenix in front for good.
Johnson topscored for 26 points, while Ricci Rivero added 20 for the Fuel Masters, who took the solo lead in Group B with a 2-0 record.
Cansino came away with 18 points to lead the Bolts, who got 16 from veteran gunner Allein Maliksi including a 4-of-5 shooting from three-point range.
Bates filled up the void left by Varnado by contributing a double-double of 14 points and 15 rebounds.
The scores:
Phoenix (98) - Johnson 26, Rivero 20, Tuffin 17, Perkins 13, Ballungay 6, Chua 6, Gozum 4, Tio 3, Santos 3, Delos Santos 0, Reavis 0.
Meralco (97) - Cansino 18, Maliksi 16, Bates 14, Hodge 13, Almazan 10, Brickman 6, Newsome 6, Banchero 4, Black 4, Quinto 2, Magbuhos 2, Mocon 2, Rios 0.
Quarterscores: 31-22; 50-56; 73-75; 98-97.
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