Baser Amer plays 'sleeper' anew, lifts Blackwater past Phoenix on game-winner

Ato Ular drops his first 30-piece just six games into his PBA career. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Baser Amer once again put the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City into sleep on Friday as he buried the game-winner to lift Blackwater over Phoenix, 91-89, in their PBA Philippine Cup meeting.

Amer, despite another quiet afternoon, made the shot that mattered the most, a pull-up jumper over the outstretched arms of Chris Lalata with 2.1 seconds left to cap the Bossing's final surge within the 25.1 seconds of the match sparked by Yousef Taha's and-one play and preserve Ato Ular' career game.

Matthew Wright tried to steal the win for the Fuel Masters, but his three-point attempt was way off the mark even as Jason Perkins' follow-up failed to make it on time.

Ular led Blackwater, now up to 5-1 in the standings, with 34 points, the most by a rookie since Mikey Williams dropped 39 for TNT in Game 3 of the Philippine Cup Finals last year, and 10 rebounds.

Brandon Rosser added 16 points, three rebounds, two assists, and one steal.

Perkins made 22 markers, eight boards, one dime, and one interception for Phoenix, which fell to 2-6, putting the team in danger of missing the quarterfinals.

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