The Phoenix Fuel Masters picked up where they left off and clipped the Meralco Bolts, 96-86 in the 2018 PBA Governors' Cup on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Fuel Masters gained steam in the second period on the way to claiming their second straight victory for a 4-1 record.
Import Eugene Phelps didn't need to score too much but finished with team-high 24 points and 19 rebounds to lead the team's balanced attack.
Calvin Abueva had 16 points, eight rebounds, and two assists but turned the ball over six times. Matthew Wright returnedand churned out 16 points, three boards, and five dimes.
Jason Perkins chimed in 13 markers, seven rebounds, and three assists.
Phoenix stretched a five-point, 47-42 lead at halftime and kept the Bolts at arm's length the rest of the way.
Meralco pulled to within eight points, 68-76 after Anjo Caram swished a three-pointer at the onset of the final quarter. A few minutes later, Phoenix got a run going after Calvin Abueva drilled in a triple of his own to give the team an 85-72 buffer.
Perkins then muscled his way to the basket for a tough layup as Phoenix chalked up its biggest lead, 91-72. Refusing to throw in the towel, the Bolts chewed chunks of that lead with a 12-4 spurt that got them as close as 95-84 with less than two minutes remaining.
As emphatic as the win was, Phoenix head coach Louie Alas refused to get ahead of themselves.
"It's still too early. We have yet to face teams like Magnolia, whose defensive pressure is tough to break," Alas said during the post-game interview.
Meralco continued to struggle to regain its bearing and slid to a third straight loss, dropping to a 1-3 record.
Chris Newsome paced Meralco with 18 points and four rebounds, while import Allen Durham posted a double double of 16 markers and 13 caroms to go with nine assists.
THE SCORES
Phoenix 96 - Phelps 24, Abueva 16, Wright 16, Perkins 13, Chua 9, Revilla 8, Intal 6, Jazul 4, Wilson 0, Mendoza 0.
Meralco 86 - Newsome 18, Durham 16, Lanete 11, Hugnatan 10, Jamito 8, Caram 7, Salva 6, Amer 5, Sedurifa 3, Hodge 2, Canaleta 0, Atkins 0, Faundo 0.
Quarterscores: 21-22, 47-42, 74-63, 96-86.
EXTRA DRIBBLES
Gelo Alolino and Rey Guevarra recovered from their respective injuries. But they were not fielded in.
Meralco veterans Ranidel De Ocampo and Jared Dillinger are nursing injuries.
The PBA resumed after a two-week break that gave way for the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers. Gilas lost to Iran but recovered against Qatar to take a 5-3 record.
Matthew Wright, Blackwater's Poy Erram, and Stanley Pringle of NorthPort all returned to PBA action after their duties with the national team.
NEXT GAMES
Phoenix - vs Magnolia on September 23 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum
Meralco - vs Rain or Shine on September 28 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum