PBA: Phoenix overcomes NorthPort for 2nd straight win

Jason Perkins posts career best to life Phoenix. PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—Phoenix chose the perfect moment to mount an offensive run to sink NorthPort, 110-105, in the PBA Philippine Cup Thursday at Angeles University Foundation.

Locked in an 88-88 stalemate in the middle of the fourth quarter, the Fuel Masters eventually found their stroke late, going on a quick 10-0 run to take a 98-91 buffer after Justin Chua’s three with 4:49 left in the game.

Matthew Wright, Chua, and Jason Perkins, who had a career game, then maintained the Fuel Masters’ margin after exchanging buckets with 3:16 to play for the 103-94 lead.

Christian Standhardinger tried to put the Batang Pier back in the fold with a jumper at the 1:28 mark to trim Phoenix’ lead to four, 103-99, but it was Wright who buried the dagger when he drilled a gut-wrenching three for his team’s 106-99 lead with 56 seconds to play.

“Matt never took a bad shot in the first half and he never takes a bad shot because he trusts his teammates that they’re going to be open and they delivered,” said head coach Topex Robinson.

“Obviously it’s nice to win but like what Matt told me ‘don’t celebrate’ and I’m going to take it from our leader. We deserve more and we want to be hungry for more.”

The Fuel Masters improved to a 2-0 card while the Batang Pier are in the inverse.

Perkins tied his career high of 31 points with 12 rebounds while Wright finished with a near triple-double of 23 points, seven boards, and nine assists.

Standhardinger had 28 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists for the Batang Pier while Sean Anthony finished with a triple-double of 23 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists.