Phoenix withstands late AMA push to take solo lead

PBA

By Ivan Saldajeno

QUEZON CITY--Phoenix survived one last surge from AMA to score a 97-89 win in their PBA D-League Foundation Cup showdown at the JCSGO Gym on Monday.

The Accelerators saw their lead of as high as 22 chopped down to single digit but escaped as the late run turned out to be a bit too late for the Titans.

Phoenix immediately raced to a double-digit spread in the first quarter and eventually extended it to 22, the last at 85-63 with 7:24 left in the game.

But Jaycee Asuncion capped an 8-0 AMA run with an and-one and a triple to cut the lead down to 14, 85-71, with 6:02 to go.

An Achie Iñigo trey appeared to have weathered the storm for the Accelerators as they climbed back up to 17, 88-71, with 5:44 left.

But the Titans stormed back with a 12-3 run to cut the lead back to nine, 92-83, with 2:49 remaining.

Ed Daquioag then scored on a split and a deuce to bring the lead up to 12 again, 95-83, with 2:14 left.

AMA, however, went on another 6-0 run to draw to within six, 89-95, with 53.3 seconds to go.

Daquioag opened another chance for the Titans to inch closer after he missed two free throws, but they failed to respond and Alfred Batino secured the win with two freebies.

Daquioag had a solid all-around game with 18 points, six rebounds, and six assists to backstop Mike Tolomia's 27-point explosion for the now 3-0 Accelerators, who are solely at the top of the team standings.

Ryan Arambulo led the Titans, who further dropped to 0-3, with 18 markers of his own.

Box Scores:

Phoenix 97-Tolomia 27, Daquioag 18, Tamsi 16, Jamito 11, Mendoza 7, Pascual 6, Inigo 5, Batino 3, Andrada 2, Escoto 2, Knuttel 0

AMA 89-Arambulo 18, Asuncion 17, Publico 17, Taganas 14, Belleza 10, Jo. Montemayor 9, Bragais 2, Magpantay 2, Dizon 0, Jordan 0, Je. Montemayor 0, Ragasa 0

Quarterscores: 29-16, 58-39, 78-57, 97-89

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