MANILA – Anchored upon a career-high performance from RJ Jazul and a club record, Phoenix Fuel Masters pulled off a huge Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) bubble win over San Miguel Beermen with a 110-103 decision on Thursday night at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center in Pampanga.
Jazul, known throughout his career as more of a facilitator, dropped 33 points, the first time he reached the 30-point mark in his career on nine triples for the Fuel Masters.
However, none was more important than his last triple with only 13 seconds left that finally shut the door on the Beermen's chance to at least sneak closer into the Fuel Masters' lead.
Jazul also had two assists and two steals for Phoenix, which climbed to solo third place at 6-3, a half-game behind joint leaders Ginebra and TNT, which will face off on Friday night for solo leadership.
Jason Perkins provided the early spark for the Fuel Masters with 27 points, 19 in the first half, on 5-of-7 shooting from three-point range alongside 10 rebounds and three assists.
In total, the team converted 22 triples, the most in the club's young history, and the most so far in the ongoing bubble season.
Matt Wright, the PBA's leading scorer so far this season, played more of a facilitator this time, but he still got a double-double of his own with 10 markers and 10 dimes alongside seven boards and one steal.
Mo Tautuaa put up 21 points, five rebounds, and five assists for the Beermen, but foul trouble slowed him down in the second half, where the Fuel Masters held them to only 18 third-quarter points before dropping 35 in the fourth.
Alex Cabagnot and Marcio Lassiter each tallied 20 markers for SMB, which saw its four-game winning run come to an end and fell to a tie with Meralco for fourth place at 5-3. (PNA)
