Phoenix stuns San Miguel behind Intal's 22

JC Intal came off the bench for 22 points in just 24 minutes to lead the Phoenix Fuel Masters to a 92-85 victory over the San Miguel Beermen on Wednesday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

 

Phoenix set the tone early, building a 26-13 edge at the end of the first. They continued with their steady shooting in the second, taking a 49-35 edge at the half. The Beermen struggled to cut the deficit in the third, just matching Phoenix' output, and the lead proved to be too large a margin to overcome in the fourth, as San Miguel fell short outscoring Phoenix 22-15.

 

"Not expecting na makakapasok dito sa press [room after] playing the defending champions," Phoenix head coach Ariel Vanguardia admitted after the game. "Napatanuyan namin sa isat isa na kaya namin, na kaya namin magcompete with this team. We had a lead we could sustain. Nakachamba kami ngayon."

 

Vanguardia credited his veterans for the win, while disclosing that the team is challenging their young big men to rise to the occasion. 

 

"I put the veterans inside," he explained. "JC made some big shots, china-challenge namin si Prince [Caperal] and Norbert [Torres] na mag step up. JC had a breakout game, we've been waiting for JC to have a breakout game. JC was up to being off the bench [even if] he is considered as the franchise player of this team." 

 

Aside from Intal, Phoenix' starters also delivered, with Simon Enciso and Matthew Wright combining for 29 points. Enciso added nine assists and seven boards, while Wright tallied eight boards and three assists. Gelo Alolino also came off the bench for 13 points in 16 minutes, wile Prince Caperal added 10 markers and five boards.

 

June Mar Fajardo paced San Miguel with 19 points and 24 rebounds, while Alex Cabagnot had 16 points and seven boards. Marcio Lassiter and Arwind Santos rounded up the starters in double figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively, while Gabby Espinas added 12 off the bench. RR Garcia also had nine points.

 

With the win, Phoenix tied San Miguel in the middle of the standings with an identical 1-1 win-loss slate, along with TNT. Blackwater and Rain or Shine are still atop the standings at 2-0, while Mahindra is at 0-2. — DVM, GMA News