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PBA: Team effort for Phoenix to fill Banchero's spot, says Robinson

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="PBA Media Bureau." src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/02/16/20220216-pba.jpg"/><figcaption>Phoenix Super LPG head coach Topex Robinson and former player Chris Banchero. <em>PBA Media Bureau.</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA, Philippines -- Chris Banchero only spent a short amount of time with Phoenix Super LPG, but he immediately carved out a role within the Fuel Masters.</p><p>&quot;CB (Banchero) was the focal point of our defense,&quot; noted Phoenix Super LPG coach Topex Robinson.</p><p>In his five games with the Fuel Masters in the 2021 PBA Governors&#x27; Cup, Banchero contributed 18.0 points on 55.4% shooting, along with 4.4 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 2.4 steals per game. </p><p>But he opted for free agency upon the expiration of his contract, and signed with the Meralco Bolts during the holiday break. Phoenix, in a statement, wished him well, even as they said that they exhausted all efforts to retain Banchero.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/02/02/22/pba-chris-banchero-suits-up-for-meralco">READ: Chris Banchero suits up for Meralco</a></li></ul><p>Their offer, according to Phoenix, was for three years, one that &quot;any player would envy.&quot;</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CZeClc2Lpgf/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:540px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:40px;margin-right:14px;width:40px"> 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</div></div><div style="margin-left:auto"><div style="width:0px;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(16px)"> </div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;flex-grow:0;height:12px;width:16px;transform:translateY(-4px)"> </div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(-4px) translateX(8px)"> </div></div></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:24px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"> </div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"> </div></div><div style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CZeClc2Lpgf/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters (@fuelmasters)</a></div></div></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>The Fuel Masters opened their post-Banchero era in style on Sunday, outlasting TNT Tropang GIGA, 93-92, on a last-second game-winner by Matthew Wright. Afterward, Robinson noted that his players rose to the occasion to fill in the gap left by Banchero, particularly on the defensive end.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/02/13/22/pba-wright-saves-the-day-for-phoenix-against-tnt">GAME RECAP: Wright saves the day for Phoenix against TNT</a></li></ul><p>&quot;Everybody was just challenged to fill up for that defensive intensity by CB,&quot; he said.</p><p>Wright, who had 27 points and 10 assists, exemplified this by anticipating TNT&#x27;s final play and stealing the ball off Jayson Castro before going all the way for the go-ahead layup.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s everybody&#x27;s effort. (Import) Dominique (Sutton) played well, also defensively, and I guess Jansen Rios really played tremendous defense this afternoon, and the rest of the other guys supporting him,&quot; he added.</p><p>Robinson said they must continue to get that sort of collective effort in order to fill in what was lost when Banchero left the team.</p><p>&quot;Chris really was a big part of our team, and we just reminded that CB is a part of it, but not the whole of it,&quot; said the coach. &quot;So whichever part that CB, that we lost from CB, somebody else will fill that spot.&quot;</p><p>&quot;RJ Jazul played well, RR (Garcia) was also solid. We missed a bit of Aljun because he&#x27;s still recovering from that injury, but we have a ton of guards to really help us out, and we got Billy Robles from the free agency,&quot; he added.</p><p>Jazul stepped up in a big way for Phoenix on Sunday, putting up 16 points off the bench on top of five rebounds and two assists. </p><p>&quot;So, just trying to fill up that spot, and trying to make sure that&#x27;s gonna be a collective effort,&quot; said Robinson.</p><p>The Fuel Masters return to action on Saturday against the Magnolia Hotshots.</p>

Chris Banchero only spent a short amount of time with Phoenix Super LPG, but he immediately carved out a role within the Fuel Masters.

PBA: Team effort for Phoenix to fill Banchero's spot, says Robinson

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PBA: Team effort for Phoenix to fill Banchero's spot, says Robinson

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 16, 2022 04:54 PM PHT

Read More:

basketball

PBA

PBA Governors' Cup

Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters

Chris Banchero

Meralco Bolts

free agency

Topex Robinson

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