PHOENIX rose from a blowout loss the last time out and sent TNT to its worst conference start in the last 25 years with a 95-81 victory in their PBA Philippine Cup road tiff at the Ynares Center Montalban Friday.
Jason Perkins erupted for 27 points including 3-of-3 three-point shooting, and four other Phoenix players hit in double figures as the Fuel Masters pounced on the Tropang 5G's continued struggle, dealing them a third straight loss in PBA Season 49 all-Filipino tourney.
Tyler Tio fired 16 points, also counting three treys, while Ken Tuffin and Kai Balliungay added 11 apiece while RJ Jazul tossed in 10 markers off the bench as Phoenix bounced back from a loss to Magnolia (99-118) the last time out and improved to 2-3.
The Fuel Masters set the tone right in the opening quarter, seizing control early and dominating the Tropang 5G before eventually handing them a third straight defeat in the tourney where they're trying to nail the third jewel in a possible Grand Slam season.
Coach Chot Reyes' troops couldn't get into the groove and fell to 0-3 in the tourney - a first start of such a kind since a similar record to kick off its campaign in the 2000 Philippine Cup as per PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III.
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Calvin Oftana tossed in 20, Simon Enciso added 14 while Rey Nambatac and RR Pogoy contributed at least 10 points each in a losing cause..
On the solid start of Perkins, Tio, Tuffin and Ballungay, took the opening frame at 28-14 and sustained the juggernaut all the way to the finish.
Perkins had 27 points, six rebounds and three assists, fuelling Magnolio's strong debut en route to a 50 points.(SB)
The scores:
Phoenix 95 - Perkins 27, Tio 16, Tuffin 11, Ballungay 11, Jazul 10, Garcia 8, Manganti 3, Camacho 3, Soyud 2, Verano 2, Ular 2, Rivero 0, Alejandro 0, Daves 0.
TNT 81- Oftana 20, Enciso 14, Nambatac 12, Pogoy 10, Heruela 6, Razon 6, Khobuntin 5, Erram 4, Galinato 2, Payawal 2, Ebona 0, Aurin 0, Varilla 0, Williams 0.
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Quarterscores: 28-14, 50-32, 73-55, 95-81
