History repeated itself for Phoenix as it moved on the cusp of a historic PBA finals appearance with a 92-89 win over TNT in the Philippine Cup at the Angeles University Foundation in Pampanga on Sunday, November 22.

Calvin Abueva and Matthew Wright showed the way for the Fuel Masters, who won back-to-back games despite wasting another double-digit lead for a 2-1 edge in the best-of-five semifinals duel.

Phoenix squandered a 10-point cushion but rode on the heroics of Wright and Abueva to pull through and inch closer to its maiden PBA finals berth in franchise history.

Wright – limited to just 4 points in the first two games combined due to a hurt ankle – erupted for 25 points, including a clutch shot that virtually secured the win for the Fuel Masters.

A Ray Parks putback put the Tropang Giga within a whisker, 89-90, before Wright gave his side a three-point lead with 20 ticks left off a tough turnaround jumper over Roger Pogoy.

TNT had ample time to knot the score but Pogoy and Jayson Castro missed their potential game-tying three-pointers as time expired.

Before Wright – who scored 15 points in the second half – found his stride, Abueva carried the load for Phoenix with 24 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block.

Abueva failed to score in the last quarter but he made his presence felt in other ways, assisting on a Justin Chua triple that gave the Fuel Masters some breathing room, 83-79, with 4 minutes remaining.

“You never know when you’re going to get this chance once again,” said Phoenix head coach Topex Robinson. “Just like what we mentioned at the start of the conference, we just want to be the best versions of ourselves.”

Jason Perkins chalked up 11 points and 6 rebounds in the win, RJ Jazul had 11 point off the bench, and Chua added 8 points and 6 rebounds.

Parks finished with 19 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists for the Tropang Giga, while Simon Enciso and Troy Rosario churned out 16 and 14 points, respectively.

TNT star Castro struggled offensively as he shot 3-of-12 from the field and 5-of-11 from the free throw line for 12 points.

The Scores

Phoenix 92 – Wright 25, Abueva 24, Jazul 11, Perkins 11, Chua 8, Intal 5, Napoles 3, Rios 3, Mallari 2, Garcia 0, Marcelo 0, Heruela 0, Gamboa 0.

TNT 89 – Parks 19 , Enciso 16, Rosario 14 , Castro 12, Pogoy 8, Reyes 5, Erram 6, Montalbo 6, Washington 3, Carey 0.

Quarters: 22-24, 49-47, 73-69, 92-89.

– Rappler.com