Fuel Masters trim Tropang 5G in OT behind Tio triple near the buzzer
Phoenix gave its final push for a top four slot in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs a big boost on Friday night after Tyler Tio dropped the marginal three-pointer with 1.8 seconds left that keyed a 100-97 overtime victory over defending champion TNT at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Tio drained the game-winner over the outstretched hands of 7-foot-3 TNT import Bol Bol, as the Fuel Masters rose to 6-4 to remain mathematically in the hunt for a twice-to-beat privilege in the first round of the playoffs.
“I really appreciate the efforts of the guys. (They) were cramping up, so was our import, but they didn’t quit,” coach Charles Tiu said. “We were up for the challenge.”
Tough stand
The Fuel Masters are in fifth spot, just behind the fourth-running 5-3 card of Barangay Ginebra, which was battling Meralco at press time.
That Tio triple was the culmination of a dogged stand by the Fuel Masters against possibly the most feared roster in the conference. Led by the NBA veteran Bol, the Tropang 5G have been listed as the team to beat here and repeat a title conquest that was led by Rondae Hollis-Jefferson last year.
Ricci Rivero scored 31 points that went with 11 rebounds and returning import Johnathan Williams III scattered 22 points and had 15 boards in a respectable game, coming in to take the place of James Dickey III, who refused to suit up in the Fuel Masters’ last game and was promptly replaced.
In regulation, TNT led 87-81, midway through the fourth when Phoenix went on a 10-2 run to take a 91-89 lead before Bol, who finished with a monster 30-point, 20-rebound game, sent the game to five extra minutes with a midrange jumper at the 25.6-second mark.
Triumphant return
Phoenix’s win also gave Williams a triumphant comeback.
“He just battled it out there,” said Tiu. “He told me he hasn’t played in a while and we only had one walkthrough with him, but he wanted to battle it out with our team.”
Jayson Perkins helped the cause with 15, while Tio had 14. Ken Tuffin also had a double-double for Phoenix with 11 points and 12 boards.
The sweet-shooting duo of Calvin Oftana and Roger Pogoy scored 22 and 17 points, respectively, as TNT dropped to 6-4, tied with Phoenix but lower in the standings because of the winner-over-the-other rule if the playoffs were to start today.
Rain or Shine and NLEx share top spot with 8-2 cards and are more or less assured to top four slots with each just having just two more games left.
