PBA: Moultrie scores 37 as NLEX outlasts Phoenix in OT

Arnett Moultrie got 37 points with 17 rebounds and eight assists to lift the NLEX Road Warriors to a 120-115 overtime victory over the Phoenix Fuelmasters in the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Moultrie had a ton of help from the bench, with JR Quinahan hitting 16. Alex Mallari and Larry Fonacier also chipped in 13 and 11 points, respectively, as reserves, with the latter tallying nine assists.

NLEX led by nine heading into the final two minutes of regulation, before Phoenix went on a 9-0 run to tie the game with a Jason Perkins basket. Moultrie responded with a dunk at the other end, but the Fuelmasters still had a whole shotclock to tie or win the game.

The Fuelmasters ran out of gas in the endgame, failing to answer the NLEX’s makes. A Larry Fonacier triple with 59 seconds remaining pushed the lead up to eight, putting it out of reach.

Perkins had two attempts to tie, but the rookie missed both. Import James White was there for the second offensive board, however, sticking in the putback to send the game into extra time.

Matthew Wright paced Phoenix with 31 points, while import James White scored 19 with 11 boards. Jeff Chan and Jason Perkins were also effective in their supporting roles, scoring a combined 32. —R. Fopalan/LBG, GMA News