Import Du’Vaughn Maxwell made quite an impression in his debut as Phoenix Super LPG ended a three-game skid with a 104-99 win over Alaska on Thursday, March 3 in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Maxwell was what the doctor ordered, putting up 21 points and 21 rebounds with his relentless energy to give the Fuel Masters a victory that eluded them for almost three weeks.
It was a stirring performance for Maxwell, who a month ago left his club in Ukraine before the ongoing invasion by Russian forces before accepting the offer to take the place of the inconsistent Dominique Sutton.
Matthew Wright dropped 26 points with seven rebounds and 11 assists, Jason Perkins waxed hot from three-point range at the start before finishing with 22 points while RJ Jazul added 21 for Phoenix.
Phoenix led for most of the way but had to endure the multiple comeback tries of Alaska in order to move in solo seventh spot with an even 5-5 record.
“We know how important this game is for us, and we also know that Alaska is on a run,” said Phoenix coach Topex Robinson. “And we respect that team so much, we just have to make sure that we play it all out, and making sure also that we're focusing on what we prepared for, coming into this game.”
Alaska was denied a chance to secure a quarterfinals berth with the loss, and instead dropped to fourth spot at 6-4 with Magnolia Pambansang Manok as its final elimination round opponent on Sunday.
Import Olu Ashaolu posted 24 points, 10 rebounds and six assists while Robbie Herndon scored 17 on five triples but the Aces absorbed their second loss in the last three outings.
Perkins scored 13 while Maxwell had eight points and eight rebounds in the first quarter which put Phoenix ahead 31-20.
Herndon’s hot shooting in the second quarter put Alaska behind 48-47 at the break, but Phoenix stayed in front for majority of the second half.
The Aces capitalized on a Flagrant Foul 1 call on Maxwell after DiGregorio’s four-point play and even grabbed a 93-92 lead with than six minutes to go on Ashaolu’s basket.
Five Perkins’ points was sandwiched by a Maxwell basket as Phoenix went back at 99-94. The Fuel Masters later sealed the deal when Maxwell scored plus a foul off a Wright assist, missing the bonus free throw with 20 seconds left for a 103-99 lead.
The scores:
PHOENIX 104 — Wright 26, Perkins 22, Jazul 21, Maxwell 21, Porter 6, Manganti 5, Melecio 3, Rios 0, Robles 0, Demusis 0, Pascual 0, Garcia 0.
ALASKA 99 — Ashaolu 24, Herndon 17, DiGregorio 13, Ahanmisi 12, Teng 12, Taha 10, Tratter 7, Racal 2, Bulanadi 2, Faundo 0, Ilagan 0, Stockton 0.
Quarters: 31-20, 48-47, 81-74, 104-99.