MANILA, Philippines – The Phoenix Fuel Masters rallied from a 4-point deficit with 33 seconds left in regulation and held on for the win in overtime against the NLEX Road Warriors, 95-91, on Friday, August 26, at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The win improved the record of Phoenix to 3-4, while NLEX dropped to 3-5 in the Governors’ Cup standings.
Import Eugene Phelps led Phoenix with 29 points and 26 rebounds, while Cyrus Baguio had 10 points off the bench.
Henry Walker scored 23 points to lead NLEX, which also had 16 points from Kevin Alas.
After Baguio scored on a 3-ball to give Phoenix an 83-82 lead with 16 seconds left, Walker was charged with an offensive foul. Baguio was then fouled, but split his charities to make it a two-point game with 7 seconds left.
Alas then raced to the other end of the floor to tie the contest and send it to overtime.
A jumper by Phelps with 51 seconds left in the extension period gave his team a 4-point lead. Asi Taulava then hit two free throws to make it a 91-89 game, but a loose ball foul allowed Mark Borboran a visit to the foul line where he went two-of-two.
Walker then cut the deficit to two, but a technical foul was called due to a second delay of game on NLEX. Borboran then hit a free throw to make it a 3-point game. On the next possession, Taulava fouled Phelps who split his charities.
The Road Warriors tried to trim the lead, but Mac Baracael’s 3-pointer was blocked. – Rappler.com