RJ Jazul breaks out of shooting slump for career night

RJ Jazul catches fire for Phoenix. PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—RJ Jazul had been either decent or struggling in the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup but he was never explosive—until Thursday.

Phoenix caught fire in its 110-103 win over defending champion San Miguel, hitting a franchise-record 22 three-pointers, nine of which came from Jazul’s white hot hands, out of 53 attempts.

Jazul’s performance set a career-high for him in what was his best of the season while also making Iron Man history.

Fuel Masters head coach Topex Robinson said it was the team’s patience and trust that allowed Jazul to eventually break into an offensive onslaught inside the PBA Bubble in Clark, Pampanga.

“I just have to trust him and make him feel that you believe in him,” said Robinson at Angeles University Foundation. “He’s been working on his shot. The thing about me and RJ, we’ve been together way back since Alaska. He knows that I trust him with all my heart.”

Jazul averaged a meager line of 7.9 points on 27 percent shooting from deep breaking the 10-point barrier just twice against TerraFirma and NorthPort.

Against the Beermen, though, Jazul was a whole different marksman putting up a season-high 33 points on 9-of-16 from deep.

His career-setting shooting also came at his 335th consecutive game, which is the third longest active streak in the league with the 34-year-old Jazul never missing a game for eight years in the league.

“He struggles a lot but I told him, if you are open, just keep taking that shot. If you are open, just keep shooting and you are going to make it.”