At A Glance
- Phoenix rode on the hot hands of Ricci Rivero to send Terrafirma crashing back to earth, 133-105, in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner's Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Wednesday, March 25.
Phoenix rode on the hot hands of Ricci Rivero to send Terrafirma crashing back to earth, 133-105, in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Wednesday, March 25.
The Fuel Masters stepped on the gas pedal in the blistering third quarter assault and broke the game wide open to not only get back on the winning track but also put the Dyip’s hot start to a screeching halt.
Rivero exploded for a career-high 40 points — including 11 in that telling third quarter, outgunning Terrafirma’s Jerrick Ahanmisi, who likewise had a personal-best scoring of 37.
Rivero fired seven triples to go with eight assists as he engaged Ahanmisi on a thrilling shootout all-game long.
Joining the three-point party as well was Francis Escandor who nailed three triples and a four to finish with 20 while import James Dickey III and Evan Nelle added 14 apiece.
Hoping to bounce back from its first taste of defeat, Phoenix went off to a good start when it seized a 56-46 advantage at the break.
As if not enough, the Fuel Master unloaded 40 points in the third frame while limiting the Dyip to just 27 to take a commanding 96-73 lead heading into the final frame.
Curiously missing in action for Terrafirma was import Ali Mubashar who was limited to just 13 points.