MATTHEW Wright delivered in the clutch for Phoenix Pulse, burying a tough three to beat Blackwater in overtime, 120-117, on Friday in its final game in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Wright buried the contested trey from the deep left corner with 1.2 seconds remaining in overtime to clinch the dramatic victory in a no-bearing game for both teams.
The win, however, enabled the Fuel Masters to get out of the cellar with a 3-8 (win-loss) record and give Doug Kramer’ a fitting sendoff at the end of his 12-year PBA career.
The former Ateneo slotman announced on the eve of the game that he was calling it a career at the end of the Fuel Masters' season.
“At least we ended on a winning note,” said Phoenix Pulse coach Louie Alas. “’Yun naman ang gusto nila, para kay Doug.”
Wright finished with 28 points and shot 5-of-14 on threes. The Phoenix star caught the ball in traffic on an inbound by Alex Mallari in the Fuel Masters' final play then shot a turnaround jumper over Don Trollano.
Carl Bryan Cruz missed a triple to end the game as the Elite ended the conference with a league-worst 2-9 slate.
The Fuel Masters crawled their way back from 14 points down to engineer the win. Prior to the game-winning shot, Wright also scored a three with 3.1 seconds left to send the game into overtime.
Kramer ended his PBA career by playing for 19 minutes, scoring three points and grabbing 10 rebounds for the Fuel Masters.
Alonzo Gee scored 34 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in his first and only win as import of the team.
Marqus Blakely tallied 37 points and 17 rebounds at the end of a tumultuous conference that saw Blackwater trade key players, including prized rookie Bobby Ray Parks.
The scores:
Phoenix Pulse 120 – Gee 34, Wright 28, Garcia 17, Mallari 10, Intal 9, Chua 9, Perkins 4, Jazul 3, Kramer 3, Napoles 2, Gamboa 1, Marcelo 0.
Blackwater 117 – Blakely 37, Belo 25, Canaleta 12, Sumang 10, Tolomia 9, Cruz 7, Dario 6, Salem 6, Trollano 5, Desiderio 0, Al-Hussaini 0, Javier 0.
Quarters: 22-16; 45-46; 73-81; 109-109; 120-117.
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