PBA: Ricci Rivero's career-high vs. Meralco sparks breakthrough Phoenix win

Ricci Rivero erupted for a career-high performance as Phoenix finally broke through in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup with a 109-97 win over Meralco on Sunday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The 26-year-old guard poured 20 points together with five rebounds, two assists, and two blocks to help the Fuel Masters end a two-game slide and improve to 1-2. They also dealt the Bolts their second straight loss for an even 2-2 card.

Tyler Tio led with 22 points while the returning Jason Perkins came back with a bang as he churned out 19 markers, five boards, and one dime.

"In our pre-game, we talked about we're all doing the right things, we do our extra, we follow the coaches, we're very respectful with our coaches and everybody, but we just couldn't get the results that we wanted and we're 0-2," Phoenix head coach Jamike Jarin said.

"The answer to those questions is having fun. So probably we're just pressuring ourselves too much. We all just gathered together and played together."

But in order to get their first conference win, the Fuel Masters had to fend off a fourth quarter barrage from the Bolts, who erased what was one a 26-point deficit to mount a comeback.

The Bolts once stared at a 90-64 hole but unleashed a huge fourth quarter, including an Aaron Black layup that cut the gap to 14, 104-90, in the final 2:29. Jansen Rios then buried a four-point shot, 107-96.

But that was the closest the Bolts could get as Tio completed a pair of free throws to finish it off.

Despite the loss, six Bolts have actually reached double-digit scoring with Newsome posting 18 points and Bong Quinto registering 17. Black and Raymar Jose each chipped in 12 points while CJ Cansino and Raymond Almazan chimed in with 11 and 10 apiece.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News