Baser Amer saved the day anew, nailing the go-ahead jumper with 2.1 seconds left as Blackwater squeaked past Phoenix, 91-89, to keep its dream run alive in the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday, July 8.
With the game tied 89-all with five seconds left, the Bossing ran the same play they utilized when Amer also nailed the game-winner against the Meralco Bolts last week, although this time the 6-foot playmaker went for a step back over the outstretched arms of Chris Lalata to seal their fifth win in six games and close in on a spot in the playoffs.
Amer only finished with nine points but hit the biggest basket, stealing the show from Bossing rookie Ato Ular who had himself a night with a career-high of 34 points on top of 10 rebounds. Top pick Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser also made a good account of himself with own career-best of 16 points.
Bossing head coach Ariel Vanguardia however took the blame after his team fell behind early in the first half as he was eager to beat the Fuel Masters – the last team he coached in the PBA before he was hired by Blackwater last season.
“‘Yung first half talaga ako talaga yung may kasalanan dun, I should have not made it personal because this is the business, I understand kung ano ang nangyari but past is past. I told them kayo magpapanalo sa akin nito, hindi ako,” said Vanguardia who was a bit emotional before the post-game presser.
“We won. Nakatsamba kami. I told Baser it’s either a back door to Rashawn (McCarthy) or if you don’t have it take the shot. Thank you Baser,” he added.
Jason Perkins paced the Fuel Masters with 22 points while Matthew Wright and Tyler Tio added 15 apiece.
Phoenix actually had the chance to take the victory in its penultimate possession with 25 seconds left but Wright came up short with his three-point attempt that could have broken the 89-all deadlock.
Wright had another opportunity to atone himself from that earlier miss but still couldn’t find the bottom of the net in his final heave as the Fuel Masters absorbed their fourth-straight loss for a 2-6 record.
Blackwater trailed by as many as 12 points, 40-28, in the first half but managed to recover behind the efforts of its rookie Ular and Rosser who combined for 32 points in the huge second half turnaround for the Bossing. Ular even gave the lead to Blackwater twice in the final five minutes, first on a layup off his own miss for an 83-81 lead before drilling a booming triple that gave the Blackwater an 86-85 lead with 1:57 left in the game.