The Phoenix Fuel Masters hope their early start in training translates to a good start in the tourney.
Their long wait is over as the Fuel Masters finally plunge back into action, taking on the Blackwater Elite in the second play date of the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.
It's a duel between two teams that barely missed the Philippine Cup playoffs on inferior quotient.
The Elite have made their debut in the mid-season tourney Sunday, struggling badly and going down to a 98-126 blowout loss to Columbian Dyip.
"Malamang na gigil makabawi iyan," said Phoenix Fuel coach Louie Alas.
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The Fuel Masters, meanwhile, are just raring to come out and play again after a long training that started practically right after their all-Filipino ouster.
Alas and his troops will bring in import James White who's with the team since the third week of March.
The Fuel Masters have high hopes on White whom they believe is a perfect fit to the team and the system that they play.
"He's a rim protector. He's not an explosive scorer pero magaling dumepensa," said Alas of White, a familiar name because of his earlier stints in the PBA with Kia.
In White who's just a little over 6'7, the Fuel Masters sacrifice height for quickness and versatility.
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White's first test against tall imports comes against Blackwater's Jarrid Famous, another PBA veteran.
Famous collected 35 points and 22 rebounds in another PBA comeback Sunday but saw those numbers went down the drain in their shattering loss to Columbian Dyip. He ended up with a triple-double as he committed 11 turnovers.
Blackwater struggled badly, making only three of 22 three-point attempts and muffed nine charities.
Jittery and shaky on Sunday, the Elite hope they settle down against the Fuel Masters.
Blackwater won by five points over Phoenix late in the elims last conference.(SB)
