MANILA – Ryan Roose Garcia proved to be the thorn on the side of Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. He towed Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters to an 86-84 escape in the 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup last night at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
With the score tied at 84-all and time down to 1.8 seconds, Fuel Masters import Eugene Phelps attracted the Painters’ defense before dumping the ball on Garcia for the uncontested putback at the buzzer.
Garcia, who was cut by the Painters just before the start of the conference, finished the match with 14 points.
The Fuel Masters halted its two-game slide to improve to 2-4 win-loss slate.
Eugene Phelps flirted with triple-double with 19 points, 20 rebounds and seven assists, while Rafael Joey Jazul also torched his former team with 15 points.
The Phoenix won it despite the absence of main gunner Matthew Wright.
The Fuel Masters had control of the game since the opening quarter and even led by as much as 11 points before the Painters mounted several runs in the second half until it tied the match at 84-all on a basket by Javee Mocon.
Kayel Locke tallied double-double 29 points and 10 rebounds; Rey Nambatac added 14 markers while Mocon and Gabe Norwood had 12 and 10 points, respectively, as the Painters slumped to 1-4.
In the first game, Jeth Troy Rosario converted clutch baskets down the stretch as TNT KaTropa escaped with a 103-100 win over NorthPort Batang Pier to stay undefeated in five games.
Trailing 73-82 early in the fourth quarter, KJ McDaniels came up with back-to-back dunks before Rosario unloaded nine straight points to cut the deficit to 86-87 before taking the lead at 98-97 on a Jayson Castro hit.
After the Batang Pier took the lead for the last time at 100-98, Rosario answered back with his corner triple to surge the KaTropa ahead, 101-100, with 50 seconds to go before he upped the lead to 103-100 with two free throws with 2 seconds left.
McDaniels tallied double-double 30 points and 18 rebounds, Rosario added 22 markers for the KaTropa. Garvo Lanete finished with conference-best 23 points as the Batang Pier dropped to 1-4./PN
