PBA: Ken Tuffin scores winning free throws as Phoenix nips Jordon Varnado-less Meralco

BJ Johnson led Phoenix anew against import-less Meralco. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—Usually a steady free-throw shooter, Ken Tuffin struggled from the foul line all game long for Phoenix.

However, when his free throws were needed the most, he delivered.

Tuffin made the two winning charities that gave the Fuel Masters a 98-97 win against the debuting Meralco Bolts in the PBA Governors' Cup on Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Settling for splits in his first four pairs of free throws, Tuffin went 2-for-2 from the foul line off Chris Newsome's foul with 13.4 seconds left to put Phoenix ahead for good.

The team gradually chipped away at Meralco's lead through splits from Tuffin and BJ Johnson, while JL Delos Santos went to work defensively by scoring two blocks off Newsome, the last one leading to Tuffin's recovery that earned him his eventual game-winner.

The Bolts went to CJ Cansino for the final play, but Cansino badly missed his layup attempt off Johnson's defense, and Jason Perkins grabbed the game-saving rebound for the Fuel Masters.

Johnson led Phoenix, now on top of Group B at 2-0, with 26 points on 9 of 18 field goals, six rebounds, one steal, and two blocks.

Ricci Rivero added 20 points, six rebounds, five assists, and one block off the bench.

Cansino led Meralco, which was forced to sit out import Jordon Varnado due to a calf injury, with 18 points, three rebounds, one assist, and three steals, while Brandon Bates added 14 points on 6-for-7 field goals and 15 rebounds.

The Scores:

PHOENIX 98 – Johnson 26, Rivero 20, Tuffin 17, Perkins 13, Ballungay 6, Chua 6, Gozum 4, Tio 3, Santos 3, Delos Santos 0, Reavis 0

MERALCO 97 – Cansino 18, Maliksi 16, Bates 14, Hodge 13, Almazan 10, Brickman 6, Newsome 6, Banchero 4, Black 4, Quinto 2, Magbuhos 2, Mocon 2, Rios 0

QUARTERS:  31-22, 50-56, 73-75, 98-97