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PBA: Phoenix completes comeback against NorthPort to clinch q'finals spot

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="RR Garcia earned Player of the Game honors after sparking Phoenix Super LPG" s="" comeback="" against="" NorthPort.="" PBA="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/sports/03/13/20220313-pba-phoenix.jpg"/><figcaption>RR Garcia earned Player of the Game honors after sparking Phoenix Super LPG&#x27;s comeback against NorthPort. PBA Images</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA -- The Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters have clinched the eighth and last playoff spot in the 2021 PBA Governors&#x27; Cup.</div>This, after the Fuel Masters overhauled a double-digit deficit and outlasted the NorthPort Batang Pier, 101-98, in their knockout game on Sunday night at the Araneta Coliseum.Both teams finished the elimination round with identical 5-6 win-loss records, setting up a win-or-go home game. The Fuel Masters will now advance to the quarterfinals, where they will play the top-seeded Magnolia Hotshots.The Hotshots are armed with a twice-to-beat advantage.Phoenix Super LPG import Du&#x27;vaugh Maxwell had 31 points, 13 rebounds and five assists, while RR Garcia came off the bench to score 19 points, earning Player of the Game honors. Matthew Wright bucked a slow night on offense to complete the three-point play that gave the Fuel Masters the lead with just 30 seconds left; he finished with 11 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.&quot;Credit goes to the players. Guys just didn&#x27;t give up. We were struggling, I mean, the whole game. We just made a lot of stops in the fourth quarter,&quot; said Phoenix Super LPG coach Topex Robinson. &quot;They just didn&#x27;t give up. Du&#x27;vaughn just reminded the players not to give up, keep making stops, and play together.&quot;The Batang Pier, coming off a stinging overtime loss to TNT Tropang GIGA on Friday, led by as much as 15 points in the first quarter as they got off to a strong start.But the Fuel Masters steadily worked their way back into the game, and trailed by just three points, 79-76, after the third period even with Wright struggling to find his shooting touch. It was Garcia who gave Phoenix Super LPG a boost on offense, as he scored seven points in the third period to get them within striking distance of NorthPort.Phoenix Super LPG opened the fourth quarter with nine unanswered points to seize an 85-79 lead, with Garcia punctuating the run with a triple. NorthPort responded with a 6-0 blast of their own -- all scored by rookie forward Jamie Malonzo -- to knot the count at 85 and set up a tight finish.A personal five-point run by Jason Perkins pushed Phoenix Super LPG ahead, 97-95, with 2:39 to go before Arwind Santos knocked down a booming three-pointer that gave the Batang Pier a 98-97 lead with just a minute and a half remaining.Garcia and Robert Bolick exchanged misses from the line, and the Fuel Masters elected not to call for time after Bolick&#x27;s miss. Instead, they got the ball to Wright who soared in for the layup, while also drawing a foul from Malonzo. He coolly sank the bonus free throw, giving Phoenix Super LPG a 100-98 lead with 29 seconds to play.Off a timeout, NorthPort committed a turnover when Roi Sumang misjudged a pass. Forced to foul, the Batang Pier sent Garcia to the line where he made just one of two charities, giving NorthPort a small sliver of hope.But import Jamel Artis and Jerrick Balanza both misfired from beyond the arc, and Phoenix Super LPG completed an impressive comeback.&quot;Guys kept reminding each other, guys kept encouraging each other. And yeah, they just wanna give it a chance, and the opportunity was there,&quot; Robinson said of his players. &quot;We know that as long as we&#x27;re gonna focus on what&#x27;s in front of us, the possession in front of us, I guess that was the key for us.&quot;Perkins had 18 points off the bench, and RJ Jazul added 11 points for the Fuel Masters who shot 47% from the field.Artis led NorthPort with 21 points, but had just four in the second half where he shot only 1-of-10 from the field. Bolick had 19 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, while Sumang had 14 points. Malonzo had 15 points including a handful of crowd-pleasing dunks, but fouled out with 29 seconds to go when he sent Wright to the line.It was a sorry end to the conference for the Batang Pier, which won five straight games to make a late run for a playoff spot but lost their last two assignments in heartbreaking fashion.<div>The Scores: </div>PHOENIX 101 – Maxwell 31, Garcia 19, Perkins 18, Jazul 11, Wright 11, Demusis 4, Rios 3, Manganti 2, Melecio 2, Pascual 0, Robles 0NORTHPORT 98 – Artis 21, Bolick 19, Malonzo 15, Santos 14, Sumang 14, Ferrer 6, Balanza 4, Rike 3, Taha 2QUARTERS: 18-31, 46-55, 76-79, 101-98

The Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters have clinched the eighth and last playoff spot in the 2021 PBA Governors' Cup.

PBA: Phoenix completes comeback against NorthPort to clinch q'finals spot

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PBA: Phoenix completes comeback against NorthPort to clinch q'finals spot

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 13, 2022 08:55 PM PHT

|

Updated March 13, 2022 09:58 PM PHT

Read More:

basketball

PBA

PBA Governors' Cup

NorthPort Batang Pier

Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters

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