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MANILA, Philippines—Matthew Wright hit the game-winning jumper to rescue Phoenix from total collapse and escape Barangay Ginebra, 103-101, in the 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup Saturday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Wright buried the baseline jumper with 5.1 seconds left as the Fuel Masters salvaged a victory after blowing a 23-point lead.
“I guess we were just destined to win this game,” said Phoenix head coach Louie Alas, whose squad chalked up its first win after opening the conference at 0-2. “We just have to give credit to the guys. They really wanted to win this one.”
The sweet-shooting Wright led all scorers with 28 points, including nine in the final frame, to help fend off the Gin Kings’ fightback.
The Fuel Masters took a commanding 53-30 lead in the second quarter and were still ahead, 101-90, with only 1:54 left before the Kings made one last push behind LA Tenorio and Justin Brownlee.
Brownlee stole a poorly-executed inbound pass by RJ Jazul then went coast-to-coast for the layup to tie the game at 103 with 13.4 ticks to go.
With no timeouts left, Phoenix stayed steady with Jazul atoning for his blunder after assisting on Wright’s go-ahead basket. Brownlee nearly won it but his deep 3-pointer went in and out as time expired.
Eugene Phelps recorded a triple-double for Phoenix with 27 points, 22 rebounds and 11 assists.
Brownlee also had a triple-double with 25 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists. Tenorio and Stanley Pringle added 20 and 19 points, respectively for Ginebra, which dropped to 1-1.