Phoenix stuns Magnolia in PBA Comm’s Cup

Sports

IMPORT James Dickey III put up a monster 20-20 game to power the Phoenix Fuel Masters to a 101-98 win over the Magnolia Hotshots in the 50th PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Friday night, March 14, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Dickey scored 20 points and hauled down 26 rebounds in a solid PBA debut that also gave Charles Tiu a resounding win in his first game as the coach of the Fuel Masters.

Tiu replaced former PBA player Willy Wilson during the conference-break.

Phoenix also got enough production from its locals with Jason Perkins scoring 19 points and Kai Ballungay and Ken Tuffin tallying 12 markers each. Ricci Rivero and Evan Nelle also scored in double figures for the Fuel Masters with 10 points apiece.

Magnolia import Nuni Omot collected 27 points, six rebounds, and three assists in the loss. Omot, who played for South Sudan team in the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, is a last-minute replacement to Terrell Brown-Soares.

Zavi Lucero and Jerom Lastimosa backed Omot with 19 and 18 points, respectively, but Magnolia fell short in their bid to come back from a 13-point fourth quarter dificit.

THE SCORES:

PHOENIX (101) - Dickey III 20, Perkins 19, Ballungay 12, Tuffin 12, Rivero 10, Nelle 10, Tio 7, Santos 6, Cullar 3, Escandor 2, Caperal 0.

MAGNOLIA (98) - Omot 27, Lucero 19, Lastimosa 18, Sangalang 8, Gomez de Liaño 8, Andrada 7, Dela Rosa 4, Lee 4, Barroca 3, Escoto 0.QUARTERSCORES: 27-23, 48-50, 79-72, 101-98.(CCM)