Romwel Anzures

Phoenix Fuel Masters guard Ricci Rivero against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel import Riley Grigsby in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup. PBA Images.

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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784469952203IMG_1445.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Phoenix Fuel Masters guard Ricci Rivero against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel import Riley Grigsby in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup. PBA Images."/>Phoenix Fuel Masters guard Ricci Rivero against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel import Riley Grigsby in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup. PBA Images.MANILA — The Phoenix Fuel Masters sustained their hot start in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup after holding off Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 81-78, on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.</div>Robert Johnson led Charles Tiu&#x27;s wards with 23 points, 11 rebounds, five steals, and three assists as Phoenix raced to a 28-9 lead and eventually dominated by as many as 19 points.Ricci Rivero also delivered 16 points, while Kai Ballungay added 12 points and five rebounds as the Fuel Masters withstood the Gin Kings&#x27; late rally, which saw them trim the deficit to just three before Miah Grey missed a potential game-wining four-pointer at the buzzer.“We really tried to prepare for Ginebra, and try to stay in front of them,” said Rivero, who also tallied nine rebounds and three assists. “Big plus ito para sa amin for our next games.”Meanwhile, Riley Grigsby impressed in his PBA debut with 42 points, 13 rebounds, and two steals, but his efforts were not enough as Ginebra fired blanks in its Governors’ Cup opener.No other Gin King scored in double figures, and they also missed the services of Justin Brownlee and Scottie Thompson, who are both recovering from their respective injuries.The Gin Kings also lost head coach Tim Cone late in the fourth quarter after he was ejected for picking up two technical fouls.<div> </div><div>The Scores:</div>Phoenix 81 – Johnson 23, Rivero 16, Ballungay 12, Perkins 10, Tuffin 9, Mamuyac 6, Delos Santos 3, Tio 2, Santos 0, Chua 0.Ginebra 78 – Grigsby 42, Gray 9, Abarrientos 8, Pinto 6, Abis 5, Rosario 4, Torres 3, J.Aguilar 1, Holt 0, Cu 0, Go 0.Quarterscores: 32-15, 48-36, 66-55, 81-78.

The Phoenix Fuel Masters sustained their hot start in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup after holding off Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 81-78, on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

The Phoenix Fuel Masters sustained their hot start in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup after holding off Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 81-78, on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

PBA: Phoenix stays hot, fends off Grigsby, Ginebra's late rally

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PBA: Phoenix stays hot, fends off Grigsby, Ginebra's late rally

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 19, 2026 10:13 PM PHT

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Basketball

PBA

PBA Season 50

ABSSports

PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup

PBA 50

Ginebra

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Ricci Rivero

Riley Grigsby

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