MANILA – Blackwater Bossing leaned on a strong fourth quarter rampage to take down Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters, 97-85, in the 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Saturday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Holding to a slim 72-69 lead after three quarters, the Bossing opened the payoff period with three-pointers from Baser Amer and Rashawn McCarthy and inside hits by Renato Ular, Rey Suerte and Jeth Troy Rosario for a 91-77 spread.
The Fuel Masters cut the deficit to 12 points several times but back-to-back inside connections by reinforcement Cameron Krutwig and another basket from Amer sealed the win for the Bossing.
Amer finished the game with 22 points, including three outside hits, while Krutwig flirted with a triple-double with 17 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists as the Bossing improved to 1-1.
Rosario made his Blackwater debut with double-double 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Suerte, McCarthy and Gabriel Banal also hit double-digits with 15, 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Kaleb Avery Weeson had double-double 28 points and 26 rebounds, while Ryan Roose Garcia and Javee Mocon had 13 and 11 markers, respectively, as the Fuel Masters dropped to 0-2.
Meanwhile, Myles Powell drilled a three-pointer at the buzzer as Bay Area Dragons escaped with a 105-104 win over NorthPort Batang Pier to notch its second win in as many games.
The Batang Pier were ahead 104-102 after a layup by Shej Roi Sumang and had opportunities to widen the lead but Arwind Santos and Sumang missed his two basket attempts.
The Dragons then went to Powell, who drilled a fall-away three-pointer at the buzzer against the defense of Batang Pier’s Arvin Tolentino and import Prince Ibeh to snatch the victory.
Powell finished the game with 37 points, including eight three-point connections, Hayden Joel Blankley contributed double-double 15 points and 10 rebounds, while 7-foot-5 center Chuanxing Liu had 13 points and five boards for the Dragons.
Meanwhile, the PBA has decided the Sunday night double-header matches between Meralco Bolts and NLEX Road Warriors and Converge FiberXers and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings due to Super Typhoon Karding.
BOX SCORE:
BLACKWATER 97 – Amer 24, Krutwig 17, Suerte 15, Rosario 15, McCarthy 12, Banal 10, Ular 4, Jackson 0, Sena 0, Go 0.
PHOENIX 85 – Wesson 28, Garcia 13, Mocon 11, Tio 9, Camacho 7, Jazul 5, Rios 3, Lojera 2, Adamos 2, Serrano 2, Lalata 2, Robles 1, Muyang 0.
Quarterscores: 23-24, 54-47, 72-69, 97-85./PN
