Fuel Masters End Skid with Dominant Win Over Bossing

Phoenix ended its two-game losing streak in style, overpowering a short-handed Blackwater squad, 125-108, on Friday at the Ynares Center II in Montalban. The win pushed the Fuel Masters back above .500 in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup standings.

Phoenix set the tone early, maintaining control throughout the game, but it was a dominant third quarter that truly separated them from the Bossing. What was once a close contest quickly turned into a commanding lead, allowing Phoenix to snap their losses to NLEX and Ginebra.

The Fuel Masters’ control became unmistakable early in the fourth quarter, when they reached the 100-point mark just two minutes in, holding a 102-83 lead before cruising to the victory. The win lifted them to a 4-3 record, creating some breathing room over Magnolia in the standings.

“It just feels nice to get back with a win,” said Phoenix head coach Charles Tiu. “Two-game losing streaks are tough, and morale was low, so I’m just happy we found a way to get the win.”

James Dickey III was the standout performer, posting an impressive 27 points, 26 rebounds, and five assists. He set the tone early, contributing 17 points and 18 rebounds in the first half as Phoenix built a 67-56 lead heading into halftime.

Jason Perkins had a strong showing with 25 points, while Kenneth Tuffin earned Player of the Game honors with 20 points, including four three-pointers, alongside seven rebounds and three assists. Tyler Tio added 14 points and five assists, and Ricci Rivero chipped in 13 points and seven rebounds, as Phoenix saw five players finish in double figures.

“We had 29 assists, which is great. That just shows how unselfish we were, looking for each other. It could’ve been anyone’s day shooting-wise,” said Tuffin.

The win sets up a challenging matchup for Phoenix as they face the undefeated Rain or Shine on Tuesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

“I’m just thinking and hoping they lose at some point, and I hope it will be against us,” Tiu said. “We need to play well. If we play at our best, I believe we can compete with any team in this league, as long as we play together.”

For Blackwater, Robert Upshaw III led the charge with 36 points and nine rebounds, but his efforts were not enough to prevent the Bossing from dropping to 1-6 under new head coach Patrick Aquino. Sedrick Barefield added 27 points, although most of his production came in the first half before Phoenix adjusted its defense.

Paul Zamar chipped in 14 points, but Blackwater struggled to find secondary scoring, particularly with Dalph Panopio absent due to a reported hand injury.

Blackwater’s tough stretch continues, as they next face San Miguel Beer on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.