Phoenix denied Terrafirma a graceful exit in the 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup following a 135-84 drubbing at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Saturday, Nov. 26.
The Fuel Masters rode on a blistering first half that left the still import-less Dyip in the dust to wrap up their elimination with a 6-6 record and most importantly give themselves a chance of advancing to the quarterfinals.
Kaleb Wesson led the balanced attack for Phoenix with 17 points and 12 rebounds while four other players breached double figures in scoring. RR Garcia finished with 20 points – eight of which came in the furious second quarter run – while Encho Serrano and Jason Perkins chipped 17 and 16 points, respectively.
RJ Jazul added 14 points while Kurt Lojera and Sean Maganti were the other players in double digits in scoring with 11 and 10 points.
After Terrafirma took a brief 2-0 lead to open the contest, Phoenix went on to assert its might and never looked back, erecting the first double digit spread of the contest 22-12 with a little over a minute left in the opening frame.
If that was not enough, the Fuel Masters showed no mercy and beat the Dyip black and blue in the second frame with a massive 27-5 eruption to rip the game apart with a huge 35-point lead, 53-18.
The Fuel Masters led 67-30 at the intermission – the fifth all-time most lopsided first half in PBA history. Phoenix kept its foot in the gas pedal and even padded the lead to as many as 55 points, 131-76, with still four minutes left in the payoff period.
Joshua Munzon and Eric Camson paced the hapless Dyip with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Terrafirma wound up dead last in the standings with a 1-11 record.