Phoenix head coach Louie Alas. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
ANTIPOLO — It wasn’t the rosiest of outcomes, but Phoenix star Matthew Wright and his coach Louie Alas hope that their narrow win over TNT will pay dividends down the line.
“I’m just happy we won. [But] we really have to dig down deep in those kind of situations,” Wright told the press shortly after their 93-84 overtime victory over KaTropa at Ynares Center on Saturday.
“Two overtimes in two games,” said Alas as he heaved a sigh of relief during the post-game presser.
“[M]ore than the win, [I’m happy] with the experience to play a close game,” he added, noting that it affords them an edge in whenever they figure in such tight, testy situations.
“Last conference, we would lose in such games,” he added.
Wright, the gunslinger who was at the forefront of the Fuel Masters offense that spoiled a career performance by RR Pogoy, couldn’t agree more.
“Phoenix of the past would’ve lost that game, especially after (Pogoy) hit that shot to tie the game. We would’ve crumbled by then,” he said.
“But we stuck together, we’re becoming more experienced, and we’re becoming more of a veteran team,”
With the victory, Phoenix now enjoys a 2-0 card, good for the top spot in the Philippine Cup.
“We’re very happy with this win, but if we go 3-0, I think we’ll be happier since our upcoming assignment is a team coming off a great win,” Alas said.
The Fuel Masters brace for a proud Columbian squad who are coming off a victorious outing over reigning champs San Miguel Beer. They lock horns on Jan. 23 at the Big Dome.
“Hopefully they’ll be overconfident. It was their first game, they’re still young, so we’re gonna try and jump them early,” Wright said of the Dyip.
“We’ve got more experience than them. We feel like we’re a better team, so hopefully it doesn’t go to overtime and we end the game in regulation,” he added.