PBA: Johnathan Williams flirts with rare 40-20-10 game as Phoenix continues hot run vs new-look NorthPort

Johnathan Williams barely missed out on a rare 40-20 triple-double. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

STA. ROSA, Laguna—Johnathan Williams came just close to a 40-point, 20-rebound triple-double as he led Phoenix to its sixth straight win in the PBA Commissioner's Cup by trampling NorthPort, 113-104, on Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Williams finished with 38 points on 15-of-21 field goals, 19 rebounds, and nine assists to go along with two blocks and three steals to lead the Fuel Masters, who outscored the revamped Batang Pier, 26-15, in the fourth quarter to pull away.

Ken Tuffin added 15 points, three rebounds, and three assists for Phoenix, which following Magnolia's loss to ROS on Saturday night becomes the hottest team in the league right now with six straight wins to force a tie at the top spot at 7-1.

Venky Jois put up 27 points on 12-of-18 shooting, 15 rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and two steals for NorthPort, which fell to seventh place at 5-4.

Allyn Bulanadi, Kris Rosales, and Ben Adamos, the new Batang Pier players following the Robert Bolick-Don Trollano trade, played sparingly.

Bulanadi finished with six points in barely under eight minutes of action, while Rosales and Adamos ended up scoreless.

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