MANILA, Philippines – Phoenix weathered a tough Blackwater side en route to a 107-102 win to kick off their Commissioner's Cup on a good note during the nightcap of Wednesday's PBA hostilities at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Import James White and marksman Matthew Wright combined for 50 points to fend off a late blistering run by the Elite.
"Hard-earned win guys, pero I'll take it," Fuel Masters head coach Louie Alas offered. "Good character-building win 'to especially we're playing TNT on Saturday."
For three quarters, the Fuel Masters dictated the tempo. They erected a 22-point lead in second period to keep the Elite surveying for options in the scoring end.
For their part, Blackwater figured it out when. Roi Sumang accounted for 12 points in the payoff period while Mac Belo waxed hot from 3-point land to tie the game at 95-all and then at 98-98 with 2:35 left in the game.
"Actually 'yun ang sakit namin last conference," Alas said of the Fuelmaster's erased lead late in the game. "Noong nilabas ko si White, siguradong bababa 'yung lead namin. Wala na kong ginawa kung hindi i-challenge 'yung locals namin."
"Habang tumatagal sana ma-develop 'yung mental toughness namin," he hoped.
White and Wright came through again in that cardiac twok minutes. Willy Wilson and RJ Jazul chimed in on the effort to put the Elite -- who sorely missed big man JP Erram to two technicals -- away for good.
Wednesday's result sends the Fuelmasters alongside KaTropa, whom they face next, among the teams who have registered a triumph in the middle conference.
Blackwater, on the other hand, slides to 0-2 after an opening-day loss dealt to them by TNT.
Phoenix takes on the retooled KaTropa in Antipolo City this Saturday.
The Scores:
Phoenix (107) -- White 31, Wright 19, Chua 17, Chan 11, Wilson 10, Jazul 9, Revilla 3, Mendoza 3, Perkins 2, Kramer 2, Eriobu 0
Blackwater (102) -- Sumang 20, Famous 19, Belo 19, Maliksi 11, DiGregorio 11, Palma 7, Erram 6, Jose 6, Pinto 3, Marcelo 0, Sena 0
Quarter Scores: 31-17, 56-39, 75-69, 107-102