ANTIPOLO - Ricci Rivero sizzled from the outside to finish with a career-high 40 points as Phoenix Super LPG doused Terrafirma's hot start, 133-105, on Wednesday in the PBA 50th Season Commissioner's Cup at the Ynares Center.
Rivero shot 7-of-9 from three-point country as the Fuelmasters and sent the Dyip reeling to their first loss after starting the conference with three straight wins. Phoenix matched the 3-1 win-loss mark of Terrafirma after a game where it led by as many as 32 points.
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Rivero got going early in the first half, scoring 21 points after going perfect from threes to give the Fuelmasters a 56-46 lead at the break. The Fuelmasters later outscored the Dyip, 40-27, in the third quarter and never looked back.
“Credit to Ricci. I think he hit five threes in the first half. He was hot to end the second quarter. And that was big for us to get the lead,” said Phoenix coach Charles Tiu.
Rivero embellished an impressive all-around game with six rebounds, eight assists, and three steals in the victory.
Francis Escandor also savored a career-high with his 20 points that included three threes and one four, and James Dickey III had 14 points, 13 rebounds, and three steals for the Fuelmasters.
Phoenix's defense also limited Terrafirma import Mubashar Ali to 13 points and 17 rebounds after he exploded for 50 points and 25 rebounds against Converge.
Jerrick Ahanmisi took most of the scoring load for the Dyip with 37 points.
The scores:
Phoenix Super LPG 133 – Rivero 40, Escandor 20, Dickey 14, Nelle 14, Caperal 11, Perkins 9, Daves 8, Tuffin 7, Delos Santos 4, Santos 3, Gozum 3, Tio 0, Ando 0.
Terrafirma 105 – J. Ahanmisi 37, Ali 13, M. Ahanmisi 9, Hernandez 9, Umali 8, Chiu 6, Hanapi 6, Bravo 4, Eriobu 4, Catapusan 4, Paraiso 3, Zaldivar 2, Garcia 0, Adamos 0.
Quarters: 25-23; 56-46; 96-73; 133-105.
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