Enciso "lucky" to get third quarter explosion in Phoenix's giant slaying of SMB

PBA (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

ANTIPOLO—If there is a crucial moment that helped Phoenix pull off a stunning victory against San Miguel, it may be Simon Enciso's three-point barrage in the third quarter.

Enciso buried five triples in the said period for all of his 15 points in the game, and those long toms helped the Fuel Masters rebuild a 17-point lead.

"I just got lucky I caught fire," Enciso told Dugout Philippines at the Ynares Center on Wednesday night right after their win.

What was more glaring in his game was that he came close to a triple-double, adding seven rebounds and nine assists, and it was in the dimes department that he put a premium on.

"Coach [Ariel Vanguardia] told me about my assists. So I just tried to focus on getting my teammates involved at first. As the game went on, I looked for my scoring as well," Enciso said on bouncing back from a one-dish performance against Blackwater last week, confirming what the mentor said during the post-game press conference.

"Sabi ko sa kanya [before the game], 'Let the game come to you.' Then at halftime, I told him, 'Even though you're not scoring, you have five assists. You're still playing a good game, and [the scoring explosion] will come.' Luckily, he made those shots," Vanguardia specifically said.

In the end, Enciso lauded his teammates for keeping them afloat despite a fourth quarter rally by the Beermen that drew them to as close as one.

"It's definitely a team effort," he concluded.

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