Ken Tuffin delivered the finishing blows as Phoenix got back on the win column in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup.
Quiet for the most part, Ken Tuffin made some noise down the stretch as Phoenix repulsed Converge, 113-107, to check a two-game slide in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig on Friday, April 12.
Tuffin unloaded nine straight points inside the final 4:19 to help the Fuel Masters pull away from a 101-98 lead and improve to a 2-4 mark just above their foe whom they kept winless in seven games.
He finished with a double-double output of 16 points and 10 rebounds.
“It’s the same thing that happened to us in the first half, we kinda lost our identity, [our being able to share the ball]” said Phoenix assistant coach Willie Wilson after the game.
“Once we found that identity, we’re able to get back on track.”
Jason Perkins led the way for Phoenix with his own double-double numbers of 26 points and 13 rebounds.
Ricci Rivero added 17 points, including 12 in the third period where the Fuel Masters created a 13-point spread after his and-one play, 86-73 heading into the final frame.
That lead even ballooned to 18, 91-73 after the Fuel Masters ignited a five-point run to jumpstart matters in the fourth period.
It wasn’t enough to dampen the FiberXers’ spirits, though.
Behind Alec Stockton’s Herculean efforts, Converge slowly chipped away at the lead and before they know it, they trimmed the gape to three, 101-98 on Justin Arana’s easy deuce with 4:36 left on the clock.
Tuffin then weaved some magic and bunched together nine straight points to restore order, 111-100.
Stockton still tried to will his team back seven straight points but his efforts proved futile.
Stockton finished with 31 points he laced with seven rebounds, three assists, three steals, and two blocks. Arana also fired 32 points and grabbed 16 boards in 40 minutes of play.
The Scores:
PHOENIX 113 – Perkins 26, Rivero 17, Tuffin 16, Daves 11, Alejandro 10, Mocon 9, Lalata 7, Salado 6, Muyang 3, Manganti 3, Verano 2, Jazul 1, Camacho 0.
CONVERGE 107 – Arana 32, Stockton 31, Santos 11, Delos Santos 8, Winston 8, Caralipio 7, Andrade 3, Ambohot 3, Fornilos 2, Fleming 2, Maagdenberg 0, Melecio 0, Nieto 0, Zaldivar 0.
Quarterscores: 23-27, 50-50, 86-73, 113-107