Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
NOT EVEN a busted kisser could keep Eugene Phelps from completing a memorable PBA debut, and leading Phoenix Petroleum to its first win in the PBA Governors’ Cup.
Decked by a wayward elbow that almost rearranged his dental structure in the third period, Phelps returned to provide the KO blows on GlobalPort in the stretch to finish with 52 points and 16 rebounds in a 120-107 win at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
Coming in as a replacement for Marcus Simmons, Phelps scored 19 points in the first quarter and dictated how he would dominate the rest of the match with the Batang Pier, only to be sidelined for more than five minutes in the third after counterpart Mike Glover decked him with an elbow while going for a drive.
San Miguel Beer was just too good for Star later in the night, with Arizona Reid shooting 34 points and issuing 11 assists, and June Mar Fajardo firing 28 that went with 13 rebounds in a 109-100 victory.
The Beermen bounced back from their first loss of the tournament to rise to 3-1 and deal the Hotshots a third loss in four games.
Phoenix lost several double digit leads when Phelps was in the dugout being treated for a cut on his lower lip, and walked back to the bench just after Stanley Pringle completed a hot streak that had the Batang Pier taking a 75-72 lead with 5:34 remaining.
Phelps, named “El Destructor” (The Destroyer) in the Puerto Rican league, would then score 27 points upon returning, including the first five in the fourth period that had the Fuel Masters streaking to a 91-85 lead.
And that was after losing a tooth.
The Fuel Masters finally won in four starts and kept the Batang Pier and its odd coaching staff winless, also in four games.
The scores:
First Game
PHOENIX 120—Phelps 52, Lee 16, J. Wilson 15, W. Wilson 10, Baguio 9, Enciso 6, Pennisi 5, Lanete 4, Cruz 3, Buenafe 0, Caperal 0, Torres 0.
GLOBALPORT 107—Glover 27, Pringle 27, Romeo 20, Yeo 14, Washington 13, Dehesa 4, Mamaril 2, Isip 0, Kramer 0, Semerad 0, Taha 0.
Quarters: 33-26, 58-53, 86-85, 120-107
Second Game
SAN MIGUEL 109—Reid 34, Fajardo 28, Cabagnot 21, Ross 14, Lassiter 7, De Ocampo 3, Tubid 2, Arana 0, David 0, Reyes 0.
STAR 100—Yap 20, Blakely 15, Garcia 14, Melton 14, Barroca 11, Simon 10, Pingris 6, Mallari 4, Reavis 4, Maliksi 2, Pascual 0, Sangalang 0.
Quarters: 32-20, 56-39, 83-70, 109-100