Blackwater escapes Phoenix's Q4 attack to snap long skid

Shawn Glover led Blackwater to its first win after a seven-game slump. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—Blackwater averted a Phoenix comeback in the end for a 108-105 win in their PBA Governors' Cup game on Friday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

The Bossing were in control for most of the first three quarters but had to turn it up a notch late in the fourth to withstand the Fuel Masters' final hurrah.

Up 79-69 entering the fourth, Blackwater saw its lead gradually being chipped away by Phoenix until a Tyler Tio putback put the Fuel Masters on top, 98-97, with 1:40 remaining.

However, Shawn Glover quickly put the Bossing back ahead, 99-98, in the next play, a stepback baseline jumper with 1:17 left.

Jvee Casio then seemingly scored the dagger, a buzzer-beating long two from the right corner for a 101-98 cushion with 43 seconds left.

Phoenix still put up a fight behind a triple from Tyler Tio and a layup from Encho Serrano even as Glover kept the door open for the team to force overtime after splitting his free throws with six seconds left.

With no timeout left, Tio was forced to dribble the full length of the court for a desperation heave that only hit the rim as time expired.

Tio's buzzer-beater attempt was ruled as a long two, so the Fuel Masters could have still lost had it go in.

Glover finished with 31 points on 13-of-20 shooting, 13 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks for Blackwater, which snapped a seven-game losing streak dating back to the Commissioner's Cup.

Baser Amer added 17 points, one rebound, and two assists, while Ato Ular chipped in 14 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, and one steal.

Yousef Taha contributed 10 points, 13 rebounds, and three assists off the bench in his best game with Blackwater.

Du'Vaughn Maxwell led Phoenix, which fell to 0-2, with 37 points, 17 rebounds, four assists, and six blocks.

The Scores:

BLACKWATER 108 – Glover 31, Amer 17, Ular 14, Taha 10, McCarthy 9, Hill 6, Banal 6, Ayonayon 5, Casio 5, Ilagan 3, DiGregorio 2, Torralba 0, Escoto 0, Suerte 0

PHOENIX 105 – Maxwell 37, Tio 15, Perkins 13, Alejandro 10, Serrano 9, Soyud 5, Manganti 5, Garcia 5, Jazul 2, Muyang 2, Camacho 2, Go 0

QUARTERS: 25-18, 54-45, 79-69, 108-105

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno