Fuel Masters surge ahead

A franchise-best surge to the top by Phoenix Pulse marked the second week of the Philippine Basketball Association’s Philippine Cup.

After two overtime triumphs, Phoenix needed no extra minutes to bring Columbian back to earth with a 108-98 win on Wednesday. The Fuel Masters later wound up with the solo lead after the Dyip bounced back in their next game by upsetting NorthPort, 110-100.

The Fuel Masters treated the Dyip with respect and led all the way. But the Dyip, who won only once in 11 games as cellar-dweller here last year, regained their shooting touch against the Batang Pier and finished with seven men pooling a combined 95 points.

With Gabe Norwood shining down the stretch, Rain or Shine turned back Ginebra, 83-80, on Saturday in Calasiao, Pangasinan, to remain the only other unbeaten team with two victories in the one-round elimination.

Norwood fired back-to-back jumpers as the Elasto Painters took an 82-76 lead, blocked a fastbreak layup by LA Tenorio and grabbed two offensive rebounds, the last leading to a free throw by Mark Borboran and an 83-79 lead with seven seconds left.

Before Sunday’s 93-104 loss to TNT, the Beermen flashed the form experts predict would carry them to a record fifth straight all-Filipino title by downing the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings, 99-91, last Sunday after leading by as many as 23 points in the third quarter.

SMB was just as mean against Meralco on Friday with the Beermen storming ahead by 22 in the third period before settling for a 105-93 win.

Christian Standhardinger asserted himself in both victories with a combined 40 points after scoring only six against Columbian. But even more remarkable was the fact that the Beermen didn’t even miss Alex Cabagnot and new recruit Terrence Romeo with the two crack guards out with injuries.

San Miguel opened its campaign with a shock 118-124 loss to Columbian last Jan. 18,

With 2018 Governors’ Cup champion Magnolia and runner-up Alaska set to see action for the first time this Sunday, NorthPort occupies third at 2-1 followed by Columbian, San Miguel and TNT at 2-2, Ginebra and Meralco at 1-2 and NLEX at 1-3. Still winless is Blackwater (0-2).