Phoenix may have finally ended the string of futility and barged into the win column but head coach Jamike Jarin is taking it one game at a time as the team hopes to recover from a 0-4 start in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup.

The Fuel Masters play their second-game in three days when they take on the Converge FiberXers on Thursday, Dec. 19 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The clash is at 5 p.m. with the showdown between Blackwater and TNT also set in the second offering at  7:30 p.m. 

Jarin said his team is determined to keep the momentum going after their breakthrough 115-109 win to also hand NorthPort its first taste of defeat just last Tuesday, Dec. 17.

“We're 1-4 right now and we'd continue to work hard to get the next win. One step at a time, so the most important game for us right now is the one on Thursday against Converge. Tough team, young team, they just won kanina so it's gonna be tough on Thursday," said Jarin.

If the Fuel Masters want their first win streak in the conference, now is the time to do it, especially with the FiberXers currently in the middle of a hectic schedule.

Converge is playing its second game in three days as well – the first a convincing victory over NLEX – and it is still set to play for two more games to finish its 2024 calendar with a game set against Barangay Ginebra on Sunday and Meralco on the first offering of the PBA Christmas Day double-header.

Like Jarin, Converge head coach Franco Atienza is taking it one game at a time and the FiberXers aim to focus first on the Fuel Masters.

"Wala namang ibang paraan but to go through it. Maybe just deal with it chunk by chunk. So kanina we were dealing with it muna,” said Atienza

“Quick turnaround. Hindi muna kami masyadong mag-de-dwell dito, we have to prepare for Thursday, and after doon na lang naming iisipin 'yung Saturday and then go on to our Christmas Day game,” he added.