PBA

Perkins, Manuel shine as red-hot Phoenix stops streaking Terrafirma

The Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters made sure that streaking Terrafirma Dyip would not be able to stage another comeback when the two teams crossed paths on Thursday in the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup in Bacolor, Pampanga.

After losing steam at some points of the game, the Fuel Masters erupted in the fourth quarter to walk away with a 96-84 victory.

Jason Perkins led the pack, dropping 28 points to go with four rebounds, and four assists. Veteran big man Vic Manuel was also instrumental after pouring 18 markers and four boards as Phoenix improved to 3-5.

After establishing a 24-17 spread after the first quarter, Phoenix became silent in the second frame as Terrafirma took the opportunity to stage its own run.

Perkins opened that quarter with five-straight points, 29-19, but Roosevelt Adams, coming in for Andreas Cahilig who hurt his foot at the 8:04 mark, buried three baskets that included two huge triples to cut their deficit to only one, 32-21.

Juami Tiongson, who has been a marked man all game long, dropped two baskets before Manuel and Joseph Gabayni traded baskets as Terrafirma took the lead for the first time in the game, 39-40. Phoenix still managed to end the half with a slim upperhand at 48-47.

"We're just executing our plays. Just playing basketball like we do," Perkins told the media in the post-game press conference.

Phoenix then unlocked the third canto with an 11-5 run, 57-52. A buzzer-beater three to end the quarter, however, put the Dyip within striking distance at 69-64 with the Fuel Masters still on the lead.

But Phoenix, knowing that Terrafirma is capable of mounting an insurmountable deficit, stepped on the gas in the fourth.

Manuel scored seven quick points to lead a 15-3 run before Perkins shot back-to-back baskets to make it an 88-72 cushion. Adams and Bonbon Batiller buried triples but those were not enough to rally Terrafirma past Phoenix.

"We just respected the Terrafirma. We know that if we're not going to give our best basketball today, that's a recipe for a loss for us," said Phoenix head coach Topex Robinson.

With the loss, Terrafirma ended a three-game winning streak to drop to ninth place with a 3-6 card. Adams led the Dyip with 11 points on 4-for-11 shooting to go with four rebounds while Aldrech Ramos registered 13 markers.

Box scores:

Phoenix Super LPG (96) — Perkins 28, Manuel 18, Wright 15, Chua 9, Calisaan 9, Jazul 7, Banchero 4, Garcia 4, Pascual 2,

Terrafirma (84) — Ramos 13, Adams 11, Camson 11, Gabayni 11, Mccarthy 10, Tiongson 8, Cahilig 4, Ganuelas-Rosser 4, Laput 4, Batiller 3, Calvo 3, Celda 2

Quarter scores: 24-17, 48-47, 69-64, 96-84

—MGP, GMA News