Phoenix import Jameel McKay put together an impressive performance while recent acquisition RJ Jazul made some crucial plays in the clutch as the Fuel Masters pounced on the hobbled Alaska Aces, 94-86, in the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Friday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
McKay dominated all game long as he scored 42 points on 16-for-25 (64-percent) shooting from the field and grabbed 22 rebounds. He also tallied two steals and two blocks on the defensive end and earned himself 15 attempts from the free throw line.
Cyrus Baguio also added 12 points and six rebounds to make up for a rough night from Phoenix’s rookie gunner Matthew Wright, who struggled for just seven points on 3-for-15 (20-percent) shooting.
Jazul, meanwhile, finished with just 10 points against his former team but made several big plays in the last two minutes to ice the game for Phoenix, which snapped a two-game losing skid to improve to 3-4. He also dished out eight assists.
Alaska lost a second straight game after starting the conference with four consecutive wins.
But the Aces had the odds stacked against them after star forward Calvin Abueva sat the game out after suffering an injury during the Philippine national men’s basketball team’s practice last Monday.
‘The Beast’ will not be cleared to return to the court without a protective mask and was measured for it on Thursday. He joined an Alaska injury list that also includes Vic Manuel and Chris Banchero, who have both been sitting out games.
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Phoenix led by as many as 12 points, 78-66, in the fourth quarter on a dunk by McKay, who had his best game here in the PBA so far.
But Alaska was able to inch back and remain within reasonable distance in the last two minutes after back-to-back baskets from Sonny Thoss and Alaska import Corey Jefferson, who drilled in a three-pointer, made it a seven-point game with 1:24 remaining.
Jazul, who was traded by Alaska to Phoenix last February, burned his old teammates by setting up a layup for Doug Kramer, who made it 90-81 for the Fuel Masters.
Alaska’s JVee Casio responded with a triple to make it a six-point game with 1:04 still to left on the clock before Jazul again made a play, sinking a floater from the midrange, 92-84. The Phoenix point guard then iced it with two free throws, 94-84, with 37 seconds remaining.
The scores:
Phoenix (94) – McKay 42, Baguio 12, Jazul 10, Wright 7, Borboran 7, Kramer 6, Miranda 5, Alolino 5, Torres 0.
Alaska (86) – Jefferson 31, Casio 14, Thoss 8, Exciminiano 6, Racal 6, Mendoza 6, Enciso 5, Cruz 3, Hontiveros 2, Andrada 2, Pascual 0.
Quarterscores: 25-19, 42-36, 66-62, 94-86.
