Nov 15, 2019

Wright moment

MATTHEW Wright sparkled in the most crucial of moments, enabling Phoenix Pulse to end its PBA season on a winning note.

The national team mainstay scored 20 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter and overtime period, enabling the Fuel Masters to fashion a pulsating 120-117 overtime victory over Blackwater at the end of their PBA Governors Cup campaign Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

None of Wright's points were bigger than those that came from his corner triple off an inbound pass from Alex Mallari, the shot hitting nothing but net and giving Phoenix the three-point lead that stood when Carl Bryan Cruz missed a desperate three-point heave at the buzzer.

The win was the Fuel Masters' third in 11 games, which should give them at least 11th. They could go a rung higher should previous victim Rain or Shine, currently at 10th with a 3-7 slate, lose to Meralco on Sunday.

As it is, Phoenix coach Louie Alas is pleased enough that his team got the desired result from the send-off game for veteran center Doug Kramer who has already announced his retirement following the Blackwater game.

Sponsored content:
Phoenix coach Louie Alas related that another veteran frontliner, Willy Wilson, is set to follow suit and also hang up his playing jersey.

"Most likely," related Alas. "Kasi matagal na daw nilang pinag-uusapan ng family niya."

Alas also bared that he and management are set to sit down on Monday and discuss the future of the team which topped the Philippine Cup eliminations but wound up 10th in the Commissioner's Cup, a slide that is mostly attributed to the indefinite ban slapped on do-it-all forward Calvin Abueva last May.

"Ang bottom line is, we're losing. So we have to arrest that," said Alas. "Kung ano mga plano, pag-uusapan din."

At least Wright, who also finished with six rebounds and four assists, gave Phoenix something to remember by in a game that was supposed to be no-bearing but played out like a championship game.

Sponsored content:
Wright already gave a glimpse of his heroics by scoring 13 points in the fourth period, including the Fuel Masters' last nine points off 3s with his trey from the right wing knotting the count at 109, with 3.1 ticks left.

Just like in the last shot of the game, Cruz was way off in his three-point try and OT was forced.

In the extension, Wright's free throws even made it a 117-114 count in the last 11.1 seconds and Phoenix seemed headed for a sure win.

But Mallari blundered, giving up an and-one to Roi Sumang that tied the game at 117, 2.7 seconds left.

Good thing Wright was there to save the day.

Alonzo Gee was also a big factor with 34 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists while RR Garcia added 17 points.

Marqus Blakely's game-highs of 37 points and 17 rebounds led Blackwater, which also drew 25 points from Mac Belo, 12 points from KG Canaleta and 10 points and eight dimes from Sumang.

The Elite actually led by as much as 78-64 in the third quarter and were still ahead 107-98 in the last 46 seconds of regulation, but couldn't hang on and thus dropped to a tournament-worst 2-9 record. (NC)

The scores:

Phoenix 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.

Quarterscores: 22-16, 45-46, 73-81, 109-109, 120-117.