Sports

Phoenix’s Phelps scores game-winner over Alaska

July 23, 2017

JAY R. GOTERA

MANILA — Eugene Phelps scored the game-winning basket at the buzzer as the Phoenix Fuel Masters inflicted yet another bitter defeat on the hard-luck Alaska Aces, 95-93, in the PBA Governors’ Cup Saturday night.

Phoenix thus joined NLEX at the top of the standings, both with a 2-0 win-loss record.

Alaska, on the other hand, joined Kia at the bottom, both with a 0-2 mark. It was the Aces’ 10th straight loss dating back to this year’s Commissioner’s Cup—the franchise’s longest losing streak.

After import LaDontae Henton gave Alaska a 91-90 lead with 41.1 seconds left with a tip-in of a missed shot by Calvin Abueva, RJ Jazul responded with a three-pointer to give the lead back to Phoenix, 93-91, with 29.2 remaining.

Alaska’s Chris Banchero knotted the count at 93-all with 21.1 seconds left. Phoenix then went to Phelps, and the reigning Best Import awardee did not disappoint with an undergoal stab that beat the buzzer.

Phelps played and led his team despite nursing a flu, coming up with a game-high 29 points and 14 rebounds. Jazul tormented his former team with 15 points, including 4-of-5 from beyond the three-point arc.

Rookie Joseph Eriobu also played solidly for Phoenix finishing with 14 points, and 11 rebounds.

Henton led Alaska with 30 points and 10 rebounds.

NLEX 100, Kia 93

The NLEX Road Warriors sustained their winning ways with an easy 100-93 victory over the Kia Picanto.

Their second win in as many games marked the Road Warriors’ best start in an import-laden conference and matched their franchise best start overall. Their string of four straight victories dating back to the last Commissioner’s is also NLEX’s second-longest winning streak in franchise history.

NLEX led by as many as 27 points, 78-51, in the third-quarter. Kia staged a spirit rally in the endgame, cutting the deficit to five, 98-93, with a minute left. But the Road Warriors had enough headway to easily crush the uprising.

Import Aaron Fuller paced NLEX anew with 24 points and 19 boards, while Kevin Alas and Carlo Lastimosa led the locals with 13 points apiece. Lastimosa scored all his points in the first quarter while Alas hit six of his points in the fourth quarter to quell rally by the Picanto, which absorbed their second straight defeat.

Import Markeith Cummings led Kia with 30 points while Glenn Khobuntin and Chito Jaime scored 15 and 13 markers, respectively.

Games Sunday: Blackwater Elite vs. Star Hotshots and Barangay Ginebra Kings vs. Meralco Bolts.


July 23, 2017
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