Mastering Fuel Masters

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ANTIPOLO CITY. — Veteran playmaker JVee Casio called backup big man Jewel Ponferada for a two-man game with time winding down against Phoenix that paved the way for a crucial hit Tuesday night.

Without prolific import George King, heroes showed up aplenty as the Bossing tripped the Fuel Masters 100-92 for their third win and kept their playoff hopes alive in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center here.

Playing beautiful music with Casio, Ponferada rolled to the basket and soared for a layup that pegged a 98-92 count with 1:09 remaining.

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TNT tries to boost its bid for a top-two finish when it battles winless Terrafirma today while Ginebra and Rain or Shine clash to further solidify their inclusion in the top six at the same venue.

Blackwater coach Jeff Cariaso was pleased no end with the fight and heart his charges showed after losing King just before tip-off due to a foot injury he suffered in the Bossing’s 109-127 loss to the Converge FiberXers last Sunday.

“I’m really just super proud of these guys tonight. I can’t express how proud I am because of the fight, the focus, energy, and the way they worked together. In a conference with imports, it’s always harder if you don’t have an import,” Cariaso said. “So, we didn’t know until 30 minutes before the game that he’s (King) not gonna play. That was already a sting to us.

“But the idea of the guys stepping up from player one to 15. . . They’re just ready tonight. They just played their hearts out and I couldn’t be any prouder of this team. I really loved the fight,” he added.

Center Justin Chua produced a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds for Blackwater while Christian David chimed in 20 markers and 12 boards.

Casio scored 14 points on two three-pointers and a four, Mike Ayonayon added 11 markers and four caroms and had 10 and five as the Bossing improved to 3-8.

Phoenix failed to recover from a 94-108 shellacking at the hands of NLEX also last Sunday and went down to 3-8.

Blackwater tasted a 51-49 lead at the half but the Fuel Masters knotted it at 72-all heading into the fourth canto.

Chua and David combined for four straight points that shattered a 92-all game before Ponferada’s bucket took the fight out of Phoenix.

Reinforcement Donovan Smith totaled 32 points and nine rebounds for the Fuel Masters while Jason Perkins had 19 markers and six boards.

RJ Jazul also contributed 12 points for Phoenix.

Cariaso vowed his team will keep fighting no matter how slim the Bossing’s chances for a quarterfinals slot are in the mid-season tilt.

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