KENNETH Tuffin rose to the occasion when needed most, enabling Phoenix Super LPG to hold off Converge and notch a slide-stopping 113-107 win Friday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
Tuffin scored nine of his 16 points and hauled down four of his 10 rebounds in the fourth period and personally took charge when the Fuel Masters saw their 18-point lead whittled down to just 100-103, still 4:04 left.
The 26-year-old belied his rookie status by booming in a 3, scoring on a drive and canning two charities to spark and fuel an 8-0 run that made it an 11-point game and effectively cut short Phoenix's losing skein at two while giving it a 2-4 record.
"It was the same thing that happened to us in the first half, kinda losing our identity," was how Willy Wilson, subbing for head coach Jamike Jarin in the post-game presser, explained the near meltdown.
"Once we found that identity, we were able to get back on track," Wilson also said, adding that his team indeed relaxed after erecting a 91-73 lead early in the fourth.
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"Human nature says that you get a little comfortable when you have a lead and it happens to almost every single team and we're no different."
Also playing a huge part in the win was Jason Perkins, who finished with his own double-double of 26 points and 13 rebounds with Ricci Rivero adding 16 points, 12 coming in the third period that propelled Phoenix to an 86-73 lead after a 50-all count at the half.
Javee Mocon chipped in 11 points while Jayjay Alejandro tossed in 10 points and eight assists.
For naught went the career-highs posted by Justin Arana and Alec Stockton as Converge fell to a 0-7 record despite playing its best game thus far in the tournament.
Arana had 32 points and 16 rebounds while Stockton threw in 31 points and seven boards, marking the first time in the young franchise's history that two teammates scored 30-plus points each in the same game.
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Stockton actually scored 19 of his points in the fourth period and chiefly combined with Arana in leading the FiberXers' ferocious fightback that was capped by a triple from King Caralipio.
Sadly for coach Aldin Ayo and his charges, they missed their next four shots and committed a turnover in their next possessions, practically allowing Tuffin and the rest of Phoenix to put the game away. (NC)
The Scores:
PHOENIX 113 - Perkins 26, Rivero 17, Tuffin 16, Daves 11, Alejandro 10, Mocon 9, Lalata 7, Salado 6, Muyang 3, Manganti 3, Verano 2, Jazul 1, Camacho 0.
CONVERGE 107 - Arana 32, Stockton 31, Santos 11, Delos Santos 8, Winston 8, Caralipio 7, Andrade 3, Ambohot 3, Fornilos 2, Fleming 2, Maagdenberg 0, Melecio 0, Nieto 0, Zaldivar 0.
QUARTERS: 23-27, 50-50, 86-73, 113-107
