Push Admin

Coach Vanguardia insists Wright is not what's wrong with Phoenix

Article (news)

Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/trending/07/31/073117-phoenix.jpg"/><figcaption>Matthew Wright attempts a shot for Phoenix against NLEX. Richard Esguerra, <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/basketball/photos">ABS-CBN Sports</a></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – By all accounts, the Phoenix Fuel Masters should be a better team with Matthew Wright around.Wright has been quite impressive as a rookie, averaging 16.7 points after the first two conferences, shooting 34.7% from beyond the arc. He is also norming 6.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game heading into the Governors&#x27; Cup.Yet his presence on the court has not translated to success for the Fuel Masters – at least, not in the season-ending Govenors&#x27; Cup. Phoenix opened the conference with two straight wins, while Wright was with Gilas Pilipinas in the Jones Cup in Taiwan. But since his return, they have lost back-to-back games: a 100-91 result to GlobalPort where Wright shot 0-of-6 from the field; and a 95-91 defeat to NLEX that saw Wright score 17 points, only for the Fuel Masters to squander a 10-point lead in the final quarter.&quot;We just lost,&quot; Wright said afterward. &quot;Some poor executions down the stretch, that&#x27;s why we lost.&quot;His personal bounce-back performance after shooting poorly against GlobalPort was of no comfort to Wright. &quot;It doesn&#x27;t matter. We lost the game… I just want to win the game,&quot; he said. &quot;It&#x27;s frustrating when your team is losing.&quot;<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/basketball/news/2017/07/30/road-warriors-remain-undefeated-ginebra-gets-board-29156">READ: Road Warriors remain undefeated; Ginebra gets on the board</a></li></ul>Wright has no explanation for his team&#x27;s two-game skid while he is with them, but his coach, Ariel Vanguardia, was quick to come to the rookie guard&#x27;s defense.&quot;Coincidence lang &#x27;yan,&quot; said Vanguardia. &quot;We&#x27;re not blaming anyone.&quot;&quot;We win as a team, we lose as a team,&quot; the coach stressed. &quot;We didn&#x27;t have the breaks today.&quot;Rather than wondering why Wright was unable to lead the Fuel Masters to victory, Vanguardia instead lamented Phoenix&#x27;s team-wide woes on defense.&quot;We couldn&#x27;t finish the job. We were already leading by 10 with under nine minutes (left). Our defense didn&#x27;t hold up in the fourth quarter, especially on (Carlo) Lastimosa,&quot; he pointed out.Lastimosa scored 11 of his 14 points in the final frame, anchoring the crucial 13-2 run midway through the quarter that allowed NLEX to erase Phoenix&#x27;s 10-point advantage.&quot;Sayang &#x27;yung opportunity,&quot; said Vanguardia. &quot;It could be the opportunity for us to move up, pero &#x27;di pa din namin nakuha. We know we got outworked, especially in the fourth quarter.&quot;&quot;Everybody should be accountable for it,&quot; he stressed. &quot;We should learn to close out games.&quot;Wright is expected to play at least one more game with Phoenix before returning to fulfill his duties with the national team. He is part of the 12-man roster that will represent the Philippines in FIBA Asia Cup in Lebanon starting on August 8.For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

Since Matthew Wright's return, the Phoenix Fuel Masters have lost back-to-back games.

Since Matthew Wright's return, the Phoenix Fuel Masters have lost back-to-back games.

Coach Vanguardia insists Wright is not what's wrong with Phoenix

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Sports

Coach Vanguardia insists Wright is not what's wrong with Phoenix

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 31, 2017 05:34 PM PHT

Read More:

PBA

PBA Governors' Cup

Phoenix Fuel Masters

Matthew Wright

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.