Phoenix comes in with desperation against Meralco, as a loss could mean crashing out of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup race to the quarterfinals.
With its playoff hopes hanging in the balance, Phoenix leans on the dynamic duo of Jason Perkins and Ricci Rivero as they square off against Meralco in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Friday, Dec. 12.
Match starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate.
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The Fuel Masters bested Blackwater, 106–98, the last time out to improve to 3–6 and keep their faint quarterfinal hopes alive.
Perkins powered Phoenix with a whopping 33-point outing he spiked with seven rebounds, two assists and a block, while Rivero delivered an all-around performance of 25 points, nine boards, three dimes, a steal and a block.
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The Fuel Masters face a high-stakes test against a Meralco squad firmly entrenched in the playoff race. A loss could all but extinguish their postseason chances, making this matchup a virtual do-or-die scenario.
Coach Willy Wilson remains focused on taking things one game at a time, trusting his stars to set the tone as Phoenix fights to stay alive.
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"We'll just go out and try to win games and see where it takes us," said Wilson.
(With reports from Jan Ballesteros)
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[Editor’s note: This article was written by a member of One Sports Digital with the help of AI and reviewed by editorial staff for accuracy.]