Phoenix Fuel Masters arrest three-game slide with win over Mahindra Enforcers
The Phoenix Fuel Masters arrested a three-game losing streak after beating the Mahindra Enforcers, 114-99, in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup yesterday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
After winning their debut in this conference, Phoenix found itself saddled in the standings with three straight defeats. However, it rose from the ashes and leaned on a balanced attack led by import Kevin Pinkney and resurgent locals RR Garcia and Willie Wilson to improve its record to 2-1 (win-loss).
Pinkney led the way with 23 points, Garcia added 22 while Wilson had a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds laced with four assists as Phoenix tied Rain or Shine and NLEX in the standings.
The Fuel Masters made their move early, dropping a 10-2 run in the first built on three-point makes by Garcia and center, Mick Pennisi, to lead, 34-23. They then continued to step on the gas pedal and uncorked nine straight at the onset of the second quarter to push the lead to 20, 43-23.
Mahindra tried to make a game out of it by trimming the deficit to eight, 59-67, but Pinkney, Wilson and Josh Urbitztondo kept them at bay by going on a scoring barrage and bring the lead back to 20, 92-72, heading to the final stanza.
Augustus Gilchrist paced the Enforcers with 21 points and 12 boards but it wasn’t enough to keep the team from falling to 3-3.
The scores:
Phoenix 114 — Pinkney 23, Garcia 22, Wilson 21, Intal 16, Pennisi 10, Urbictondo 7, Brondial 5, Lanete 5, Monfort 5, Baracael 0.
Mahindra 99 — Gilchrist 21, Canaleta 18, Dehesa 14, Digregorio 8, Pascual 8, Ramos 7, Yee 7, Pinto 6, Jaime 4, Revilla 4, Guinto 2, Hubalde 0, Webb 0, Alvarez 0.