
MANILA – Phoenix Fuel Masters banked on the dominant presence of Donovan Smith to score a 122-108 rout over Terrafirma Dyip in the 2024-25 PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Smith finished the game with 37 points, including two three-point conversions, to go with seven rebounds, five blocks, and three assists as the Fuel Masters improved to a 2-5 win-loss slate.
“I just think, our team as a whole did a great job in this game, I was a lot vocal on both ends of the floor and I think that contributed to our victory,” Smith said in a post-game interview.
Jason Perkins added 16 markers, with 10 coming in the fourth quarter, Ricci Rivero contributed 14 points, while Tyler Tio and Kai Ballungay had 10 markers apiece for the Fuel Masters.
Fuel Masters head coach Michael Jay Jarin said after the game that their defensive adjustment in the fourth quarter served as the key after they gave up a lot of points to Terrafirma in the third quarter.
“We really needed to get it together, especially on the defensive end. We were disappointed with the first quarter and in the third quarter because we gave up a lot of points,” Jarin said.
“It is still a learning progress for everybody, but we just blessed to have (Smith) as our import, he knows that he is very valuable, he is our best player out there, and he is a team player,” he added.
Brandone Edwards finished with a double-double of 25 points and 10 rebounds, Mark Sangalang added 22 markers, while Brent Paraiso, Mark Nonoy, and Kemark Carino had 16, 12, and 11, respectively, as the Dyip remained winless in eight games./PN
BOX SCORE:
PHOENIX 122 – Smith 37, Perkins 16, Rivero 14, Tio 10, Ballungay 10, Tuffin 8, Muyang 7, Jazul 4, Alejandro 4, Daves 3, Manganti 3, Garcia 2, Salado 2, Verano 2, Ular 0.
TERRAFIRMA 108 – Edwards 25, Sangalang 22, Paraiso 16, Nonoy 12, Carino 11, Hernandez 7, Manuel 6, Melecio 5, Pringle 2, Ramos 2, Catapusan 0.
Quarterscores: 29-36, 60-49, 88-84, 122-108.