The phoenix guardian Encho Serrano performs an acrobatic maneuver against Terrafirma. PBA . IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines—Phoenix eliminated Terrafirma with methodical precision on Saturday, sealing a 135-84 win to bolster their chances of securing a spot in the knockout round at the Commissioner’s Cup.
The Fuel Masters came out of the gate with a hard time and held the pedal for the rest of the way to level Dyip and their knockout campaign with a 6-6 win-lose record.
“We just celebrated the game. We just make sure we focus on ourselves and not the opponent,” said coach Topex Robinson, shortly after the game at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City, which was just four points off the distance record. difference of 55 points established by U-Tex. in July 1980.
“[W]We make sure that everyone is on this united front. Just like what (Jason) Perkins, it’s a basketball game for us,” he continued.
RR Garcia had 20 points when coming on from the bench to lead Phoenix in scoring record. Import Kaleb Wesson had 17 points and 12 bounces, Encho Serrano scored just as many, while the other four added double digits for the Fuel Masters who plunged into the unfortunate Terrafirma lucky not to be a permanent import into the league’s health and safety protocols.
Dyip, long out of the knockout stages, only had three players finish with doubles. Joshua Munzon had a team-best 12 as the club also ended their campaign 1-11.
It can be recalled that Terrafirma also lost to the Bay Area by 54 points on October 21 of last year, which put the club in a difficult position after two of the heaviest game losses in league history.
Phoenix, at best, could end the quarter-final best of three.
Robinson, naturally, can only hope for the best.
“The good thing about this is that we are in a better place. Just like how I remind my team, there will always be pressure. Even if you are at the bottom, you will have pressure. If you’re up there, you’ll have pressure.
“At this point we have no control over who we are going to face, but we have full control over our team. So it really depends more on this team’s learning and growth process,” he added.
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