Phoenix guard Tyler Tio. PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines—Tyler Tio turned in another commendable performance on Friday night, helping Phoenix Super LPG take down Barangay Ginebra in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
After a stellar week that earned him the PBA Press Corps Player of the Week honors, the 14th overall pick of the Rookie Draft delivered 17 points that went with seven assists as the Fuel Masters improved their record to 2-3.
“It’s an unbelievable work environment when you have veterans trusting you and they allow you to make mistakes as a rookie. That’s what we have in Phoenix,” said Tio, a product of the famed Ateneo program, after a 101-93 victory over the Gin Kings.
Before the upset of the crowd darlings, Tio finished with a career-best 26 points in a 111-97 rout of NLEX, which also had the league’s winningest coach Tim Cone singing praises as he was reminded of the young guard’s brilliance.
“[W]e got beat up in a practice game by them before the conference started,” Cone recalled during a chat before Friday night’s clash. “We got beat up by 31 points in a practice game with them. Tyler Tio just destroyed us.”
“Tyler is turning into a superstar,” the Gin Kings mentor went on.
Filling the scoring void left by Matthew Wright, and holding the fort as the club awaits the return of injured Jason Perkins, Tio formed quite a fearsome trio with Javee Mocon and Encho Serrano, who finished with 20 and 16 points, respectively.
“I’m trying not to think about it too much because obviously, there’s work to be done, it’s a long season and anything can happen. I’m just going to focus on the next practice and the next game,” Tio said of Cone’s remarks.
Tio went on to say that he is simply paying the Ginebra franchise the respect it deserves. And he was also the first to say that his club’s victory was far from a statement outing.
“Playing Ginebra is always a big game because of the crowd and because of what Ginebra means to the country and the countrymen,” he said.