PHOENIX had enough gas to fend off a furious NorthPort fightback last night.
Getting their act together in time, the Fuel Masters humbled the Batang Pier 108-97 to gift new coach Jamike Jarin a breakthrough win in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
Lefty big man Jason Perkins wound up with 26 points, on top of seven rebounds and two assists for Phoenix, while import Du’Vaughn Maxwell chipped in 26 markers, 11 boards and six dimes.
RJ Jazul and Sean Manganti also added 16 and 13 points, respectively, for the Fuel Masters, who finally crashed the winner’s circle after three tries and atoned for a 93-114 loss to San Miguel Beer five days ago.
NorthPort remained winless in four starts, counting a 112-121 setback at the hands of NLEX last Saturday, in the season-ending tourney.
Jarin, who took over from Topex Robinson last month, lauded his charges for not losing confidence that they could end their slump.
“You have to give credit to the players for staying positive and to the coaches kasi iyong first two games namin, we had a chance to win. So, like what I said in recent interviews, I take the blame for those but (they’re) staying positive and keep working the hardest,” Jarin said. “We like to call it the hardest so we got a win and hopefully this could give us a good winning streak.
“It has to be a team effort for everybody starting from the utility, to the management, to the assistant coaches, and head coach but the players because they’re the ones who sacrifice every game and I give credit to them,” he added.
Phoenix took a 55-46 buffer at the halfway mark it stretched to as much as 84-57 on a Jazul three-pointer with 3:26 to go in the third canto.
The Fuel Masters still enjoyed an 86-71 edge going into the final stanza.
Down but not out, the Batang Pier battled back and made it an 87-92 game on a Kent Salado layup with 7:12 remaining in the fourth.
But Phoenix held its ground the rest of the way behind Perkins, Jazul, Manganti, and Maxwell.
Reinforcement Marcus Weathers carried the fight for NorthPort with 31 points and nine caroms, while Salado had 15 markers and three rebounds.
Art Dela Cruz also contributed 12 and five for the Batang Pier.
