Phoenix Fuel Masters Advance, Beating Meralco Bolts!
This blog is all about looking back at the recent Phoenix vs Meralco basketball game in the Commissioner Cup 2023-24. We’ll discuss what happened during the match, the scores of the players, the game stats, and the past record of these teams going head-to-head.
Quick Summary of Phoenix vs Meralco Match
Phoenix has secured its first “twice-to-beat” advantage since the 2020 Philippine Cup by winning seven out of the last eight games. Phoenix secured a valuable “twice-to-beat” advantage for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals by winning 93-83 against Meralco at the Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, January 10.
Jason Perkins led the way, and import Johnathan Williams III had a great overall performance as the Fuel Masters won and now hold the second spot with an 8-2 record. The top spot is held by Magnolia with a 9-2 record.
Detailed Review on Phoenix Fuel Masters vs Meralco Bolts Score
Perkins scored the most in the game with 22 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Williams also did well with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 assists. This victory earned Phoenix its first “win-once” incentive since the 2020 Philippine Cup. Even if Phoenix ends up tied with San Miguel (7-2), Barangay Ginebra (7-2), and Meralco (7-3) when the elimination round concludes, they will secure no lower than the fourth-place position.
The Bolts were down by 14 points in the middle of the fourth quarter, 72-86 as per the Phoenix Fuel Masters vs Meralco Bolts Scorecard. However, they tried to make a comeback and got close at 83-88 with an 11-2 run. This run was started and finished by a Cliff Hodge three-pointer and a slam dunk from Shonn Miller.
Phoenix faced some trouble with two turnovers, but Meralco couldn’t take advantage. Instead, Fuel Masters’ captain RJ Jazul made a crucial three-point shot with less than 1 minute and 20 seconds left, which was a significant blow to Meralco.
Jazul scored 13 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, and gave 3 assists, while Tyler Tio contributed 15 points. This helped Phoenix win seven out of its last eight games.
Perkins and Tio scored 8 and 7 points, respectively, in the first quarter. During this time, the Fuel Masters had their largest lead of the game, leading 31-16.
Miller scored 19 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, and made 5 steals in the game for the Bolts. Unfortunately, they couldn’t continue the momentum from their previous win against the league-leading Hotshots in Iloilo City last Saturday.
For Meralco to reach the top four and earn a playoff bonus, they must win their last game against Terrafirma on Friday, January 12. Additionally, either San Miguel or Ginebra must lose their final game.
Chris Banchero added 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists for the Bolts, while Chris Newsome contributed 13 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals.
Players Scores in the Game:
Phoenix Fuel Masters scored 93 Points
Perkins 22, Williams 19, Tio 15, Jazul 13, Tuffin 6, Mocon 5, Rivero 5, Alejandro 4, Verano 2, Manganti 2, Camacho 0, Siyud 0, Garcia 0.
Meralco Bolts scoring 83 Points
Miller 19, Banchero 15, Newsome 13, Quinto 10, Black 8, Almazan 8, Rios 5, Hodge 5, Pascual 0, Maliksi 0, Bates 0, Caram 0
Phoenix Fuel Masters vs Meralco Bolts Scorecard
| Final Scorecard | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | O1 | O2 | O3 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Fuel Masters | 21 | 26 | 15 | 24 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 93 |
| Meralco Bolts | 13 | 26 | 14 | 32 | 11 | 8 | 13 | 83 |
Phoenix Fuel Masters vs Meralco Bolts Scores & Match Statistics
| Category | Meralco Bolts | Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters |
|---|---|---|
| Free Throws | 28/42 (67%) | 20/30 (67%) |
| 2 Pointers | 23/50 (46%) | 31/66 (47%) |
| 3 Pointers | 11/35 (31%) | 10/34 (29%) |
| Field Goals | 34/85 (40%) | 41/100 (41%) |
| Rebounds | 47 | 57 |
| Fouls | 27 | 36 |
| Timeouts | 8 | 10 |
| Max Points in a Row | 10 | 49:17:00 |
| Time Spent in Lead | 11:54 | – |
| Lead Changes | 4 | – |
| Biggest Lead | 10 | – |
Previous Head-to-Head Record of Phoenix vs Meralco
Here is a head-to-head record of both teams in their last 5 encounters in different competitions of the PBA.
| Date | League | Home Team | Away Team | Home Score | Away Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21/01/24 | PBA Commissioner Cup | Meralco Bolts | Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters | 107 | 116 |
| 17/01/24 | PBA, Commissioner Cup | Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters | Meralco Bolts | 107 | 116 |
| 10/01/24 | PBA, Commissioner Cup | Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters | Meralco Bolts | 93 | 83 |
| 28/05/23 | PBA on Tour | Meralco Bolts | Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters | 93 | 100 |
| 05/03/23 | PBA, Governors Cup | Meralco Bolts | Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters | 92 | 86 |