Matthew Wright of the import-less Phoenix Super LPG got over the hump in timely fashion on Christmas Day (Dec. 25) when his team faced NLEX in front of a sizeable crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Fuel Masters defeated the erstwhile unbeaten Road Warriors, 103-92, in the two-day PBA Christmas special dubbed “Season of Joy.”
With import Paul Harris playing just a little over two minutes due to an injury, Wright took matters into his own hands and finished with a game-high 23 points to lift Phoenix over NLEX, arresting a two-game skid before the league enters the New Year.
The ace guard laced the performance with six triples on top of nine rebounds and four assists to bag the third Cignal Play–PBA Press Corps Player of the Week award after NLEX’s Kevin Alas and Ginebra’s Arvin Tolentino.
“As bad as we played in our last two games, Matt said that we just have to keep on playing. That it’s either we go all the way with three straight losses or we stop the streak of NLEX,” coach Topex Robinson said on Wright’s leadership in a win that also served as his sweet birthday present.
Robinson celebrated his 47th birthday on Christmas as Phoenix climbed to a 3-2 record.
“These guys are really motivated, especially our leaders,” Robinson, also crediting the solid contributions of Justin Chua, Chris Banchero, Jason Perkins, RJ Jazul, and Aljun Melecio in a huge Phoenix win sans Harris, added.
Chua, who uncorked 19 points and six boards, was also considered for the weekly citation for the period Dec. 22-26.
Other candidates for the honor handed out by the men and women regularly covering the PBA beat were San Miguel’s Terrence Romeo and CJ Perez, Magnolia’s Paul Lee, Jio Jalalon, and Calvin Abueva, Meralco’s Chris Newsome, TNT’s Mikey Williams, Alaska’s Maverick Ahanmisi, Jeron Teng, and Robbie Herndon. (PBA) – bny
