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PBA: Phoenix coach Ariel Vanguardia turns emotional after snapping skid

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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/news-special1/sports/12/21/vanguardia-122116.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Phoenix coach Ariel Vanguardia looks forward to a merrier Christmas break after his team&#x27;s win over Meralco on Wednesday. Photo courtesy of the PBA Media Bureau</div></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines — Phoenix head coach Ariel Vanguardia couldn&#x27;t help but be emotional after the Fuel Masters secured a 94-90 come-from-behind win over the Meralco Bolts in the PBA Philippine Cup on Wednesday.Phoenix was coming off embarrassing defeats to Star (123-79) and TNT KaTropa (117-98) and it looked as though they were headed for another loss as Meralco seized a 12-point lead in the third quarter.However, rookie Matthew Wright refused to lose, scoring 17 of his team-high 22 points in the fourth quarter — including the go-ahead three-pointer — to power the Fuel Masters to victory.At the press room at the San Juan Arena after the game, Vanguardia was holding back tears as he expressed relief over his team&#x27;s win.&quot;We lost the last two games by 31 points on average, and it was a lot of sleepless nights for all of us,&quot; he said.The lowest point didn&#x27;t come during a game but during Phoenix&#x27;s team Christmas party earlier this week, when what should have been a celebratory affair instead turned somber and quiet.&quot;Nag-Christmas party kami, ang tahimik eh. Kasama namin ang mga pamilya namin, pero ang tahimik,&quot; Vanguardia said. &quot;Para sa akin, bilang father of the team, masakit kasi &#x27;di kami makapagsaya. Sabi ko sa kanila, kaya Pasko kasi it&#x27;s the birth of our Savior, so dapat masaya tayo.&quot;(We had our Christmas party, it was quiet. We were with our families, but it was quiet. For me, as the father of the team, that hurts because we couldn&#x27;t celebrate. I told them it&#x27;s Christmas because it&#x27;s the birth of our Savior, so we need to be celebrating.&quot;&quot;It was probably the most silent Christmas Party,&quot; he added. &quot;There was nothing to celebrate.&quot;But Vanguardia still exhorted his players to be happy and boosted their confidence even in the midst of a brutal slump. &quot;Isang panalo lang ito na pagtulung-tulungan natin, mae-erase natin &#x27;yung mga ibang talo natin,&quot; he said to his players.(One win where we come together, it&#x27;ll erase the past defeats.&quot;Phoenix achieved that goal on Wednesday and Vanguardia said they are at least assured now of a happier holiday break ahead of its game against GlobalPort next week.&quot;It&#x27;s God&#x27;s gift to our team,&quot; said Vanguardia. &quot;It&#x27;s God&#x27;s gift to Phoenix and to our families.&quot;For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/" target="_blank">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

Phoenix head coach Ariel Vanguardia couldn't help but be emotional after the Fuel Masters secured a 94-90 come-from-behind win over the Meralco Bolts in the PBA Philippine Cup on Wednesday.

Phoenix head coach Ariel Vanguardia couldn't help but be emotional after the Fuel Masters secured a 94-90 come-from-behind win over the Meralco Bolts in the PBA Philippine Cup on Wednesday.

PBA: Phoenix coach Ariel Vanguardia turns emotional after snapping skid

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PBA: Phoenix coach Ariel Vanguardia turns emotional after snapping skid

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 21, 2016 09:14 PM PHT

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