Phelps, Borboran lift Phoenix past NLEX in OT

Eugene Phelps and Mark Borboran accounted for 11 points gained by Phoenix in extra time to lead the Fuel Masters to a 95-91 victory against the NLEX Road Warriors on Friday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

"We played their game that's why it's very close," said Phoenix head coach Ariel Vanguardia. "We fell into that trap; we couldn't get our running game. Credit to NLEX, they're very good at what they do. We didn't give up."

Down by four points in the final 33 seconds of regulation after a Jonas Villanueva triple, Eugene Phelps and Cyrus Baguio uncorked a five-point swing to give Phoenix an 83-82 edge with 16 seconds remaining. 

The Road Warriors had a chance to regain the lead, but Henry Walker turned the ball over leading to a split from the line from Baguio with seven seconds left. NLEX then went to Kevin Alas for a basket with one second remaining, sending the game into overtime.

Eugene Phelps led Phoenix with 29 points, while the reinforcement carried their share of the load, led by Baguio with 10. Ronjay Buenafe and Josh Urbiztondo chipped in nine each, along with starting forward WIllie Wilson.

Henry Walker paced NLEX with 23 markers, while Kevin Alas chipped in 16 points in 35 minutes of play. Asi Taulava and Mac Baracael tallied 12 and 11 points, respectively in a losing effort. — BAP, GMA News