Wright, Phoenix earn character-building win heading into All-Star break

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

It’s been a seesaw campaign so far for Phoenix in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Through five games, the Fuel Masters have had alternating results with the latest a 103-98 double overtime win over Barangay Ginebra on Sunday night.

And for Phoenix swingman Matthew Wright, the grueling game was what Phoenix needed heading into the All-Star break.

“These kinds of games build character, they either make or break you,” said Wright Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. “Every game’s a different chapter so today we faced a tough opponent, a completely type of opponent, and we were lucky to execute down the stretch.”

Wright, as if mirroring his team’s inconsistency, was miserable in the first three quarters as he scored just eight points entering the final frame.

He would, however, change his fortune for the remainder of the game, scoring 11 in the final 22 minutes.

“Everything’s mental, I just told myself I’m not tired and I told the guys that we’re not tired,” said Wright, who played for more than 44 minutes. “I was playing with more energy, and the other team was huffing and puffing and they were really tired and we tried to take advantage of that.”