Phoenix nips Blackwater in 2OT as Phelps unleashes 53

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Eugene Phelps picked up where he left off, lifting Phoenix to a grueling 118-116 double overtime win over Blackwater in the 2017 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Saturday at Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

Phelps scored 53 points, eclipsing his previous mark of 52 when he made his PBA debut in the 2016 Governors’ Cup.

“It was a well-played game. I think we have to give credit to Blackwater. Both teams really deserved to win,” said Phoenix head coach Ariel Vanguardia.

“We know what Eugene can give us,” Vanguardia added. “They also have a very good import in Greg Smith.”

Phelps went 19-of-32 from the field and his last basket gave the Fuel Masters a 118-113 lead with 40.3 seconds left. He also had 21 rebounds and five blocks in nearly 55 minutes.

Greg Smith, a former Houston Rocket in the NBA, posted 37 points including a back-to-the-basket play that sent the game into second OT at 110-all, and 30 rebounds in his PBA debut for the Elite.

Blackwater rallied from 10 points down, 85-75, in the fourth quarter but just couldn’t muster enough strength in the final five minutes.

With the Elite down by only two, 118-116, Roi Sumang took an ill-advised 3-pointer as time ran out.