MANILA – Blackwater Bossing leaned on another Baser Amer game-winner to complete a come-from-behind 91-89 triumph over Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters in the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Down 86-89 following two free throws by Fuel Masters’ Matthew Wright, the Bossing knotted the score at 89-all via a completed three-point play by Yousef Taha.
After a missed three-pointer by Wright, Amer gave the lead to Blackwater for good at 91-89 with a perimeter basket with 2.1 seconds remaining.
Amer finished the match with nine points, four rebounds and two assists as the Bossing notched its third straight victory to improve to 5-1 win-loss slate.
It was the second consecutive game-winner for Amer after also scoring the marginal basket in Blackwater’s 90-89 victory over former team Meralco Bolts last week.
“Grabe talaga ‘yung tiwala ni Coach sa akin. Actually, ang sama ng shooting ko, ang sama ng game ko, pero ‘yung last play, sa akin niya pa rin binigay,” said the seven-year PBA veteran.
“Sobrang blessed ko na naitawid ulit namin. Coming into this game kasi, ni-remind kami ni Coach to treat this game as the start of the playoffs para pagdating namin talaga sa playoffs, hindi na kami manibago,” he added.
Renato Ular tallied career-best 34 markers to go with 10 rebounds, while fellow rookie Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser chipped in with career-high 16 points for the Bossing.
In the nightcap, Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots (5-3) rolled to another lopsided victory at the expense of the cellar-dweller Terrafirma Dyip (0-8), 104-83.
Ian Sangalang top-scored with 20 points, returning Paul Lee and Jiovani Jalalon added 17 markers apiece, while James Laput contributed 10 points for the Hotshots.
BOX SCORE:
BLACKWATER 91 – Ular 34, Ganuelas-Rosser 16, Amer 9, Suerte 7, McCarthy 5, Taha 5, Melton 5, Torralba 4, Casio 4, Ebona 2, Sena 0.
PHOENIX 89 – Perkins 22, Tio 15, Wright 15, Lalata 10, Jazul 8, Anthony 6, Mocon 5, Muyang 4, Rios 2, Garcia 2, Melecio 0, Porter 0, Serrano 0, Pascual 0.
Quarterscores: 16-19, 36-42, 61-66, 91-89./PN
