Phelps drops 52 as Phoenix gets first win at GlobalPort’s expense

MANILA, Philippines – Led by their bloodied new import Eugene Phelps, the Phoenix Fuel Masters earned their first win of the PBA Governors’ Cup following a 120-107 victory over the still-winless GlobalPort Batang Pier on Sunday, July 31, at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

Phelps, 26, finished with 52 points, 16 rebounds, and 6 assists despite getting his lower lip busted and having to go to the locker room in the third quarter.

The import returned in the fourth and helped seal the first win of the conference for his team and first win of new Fuel Masters head coach Ariel Vanguardia.

Lee Gwan Hee also played well for Phoenix with 16 points and 6 rebounds, while John Wilson added 15 points.

After GlobalPort got within 3, 106-103, a 7-1 run courtesy of Phelps and Wilson gave the Fuel Masters enough of a cushion. Simon Enciso’s 3-pointer with 1:39 eventually sealed the game.

Stanley Pringle and import Michael Glover each had 27 points to lead the now 0-4 Batang Pier.

Scores:

Phoenix (120): Phelps 52, Lee 16, J. Wilson 15, W. Wilson 10, Baguio 9, Enciso 6, Pennisi 5, Lanete 4, Cruz 3, Buenafe 0, Caperal 0, Torres 0

GlobalPort (107): Glover 27, Pringle 27, Romeo 20, Yeo 14, Washington 13, Dehesa 4, Mamaril 2, Isip 0, Kramer 0, Semerad 0, Taha 0

Quarter scores: 33-26, 58-53, 86-85, 120-107 – Rappler.com