The Phoenix Fuel Masters withstood a fierce fourth-quarter comeback by Barangay Ginebra to secure an 81-78 win in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, July 19.
The Fuel Masters set the tone early by building a massive 28-9 lead in the first period and held the upper hand for the majority of the match to extend their flawless record to 3-0. The victory also dampened the debut of Ginebra’s newly minted reinforcement, Riley Grigsby.
BJ Johnson spearheaded the attack for Phoenix, turning in a stellar multi-stat line of 23 points, 11 rebounds, five steals, and two blocks. Ricci Rivero chipped in 16 markers and nine boards, while Kai Ballungay and Jason Perkins combined for 22 points, logging 12 and 10 respectively.
The squad’s newest addition, Gian Mamuyac, likewise provided a quick spark, collecting six points and three assists in his first outing for the Fuel Masters.
Phoenix seemed poised for an easy blowout after widening its cushion to 79-65 with a little over four minutes left in regulation. However, the Kings staged a gritty rally despite missing the services of sidelined franchise pillars Scottie Thompson and Justin Brownlee.
Ginebra caught fire late in the final frame following the ejection of head coach Tim Cone, successfully narrowing the gap to just three points, 81-78, with six seconds left on the clock.
The crowd darlings had a final chance to snatch the victory, but Jeremiah Grey’s potential game-winning four-pointer missed the mark as time expired.
In a losing effort, Grigsby enjoyed an explosive premiere by dropping 42 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. The American reinforcement lacked local backup, however, as no other Ginebra player cracked double-digit scoring.