Fuel Masters nip Gin Kings to stay unbeaten

MANILA, Philippines -- The Phoenix Fuel Masters survived a late scare from Barangay Ginebra, 81-78, to remain unscathed in the PBA Governors’ Cup Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

Phoenix won its third straight game, as it held off a very late run by Ginebra. 

BJ Johnson sparked the winning squad with 23 points, 11 rebounds, five steals, three assists and two blocks. Ricci Rivero added 16 markers, nine boards and three dimes despite committing eight turnovers. 

Leading by as much as 19 points in the game, the Fuel Masters held a comfortable 79-65 margin with 4:30 remaining after a free throw line jumper by Rivero. 

But slowly, Ginebra pumped life into its comeback hopes despite the ejection of head coach Tim Cone, slicing the deficit to six, 74-80, with 24.5 seconds left after a 4-pointer by Riley Brigsby. 

After a split from the line by Johnson, 74-81, with 18.3 seconds to go, Brigsby hit back-to-back layups, the second of which off a steal, to cut it to just three, 78-81, with 2.6 seconds left. Johnson, though, missed both free throws. 

Phoenix’s Bryan Santos was called for a loose ball foul, which led the Gin Kings to call a timeout and inbound the ball from their side of the court. 

And with 2.3 seconds to go, Ginebra went to Jeremiah Gray, who hoisted a shot from 4-point territory, but it came off a little too far to the right. 

Kai Ballungay produced 12 points in the win, while Jason Perkins had 10. Gian Mamuyac finished with six points in his debut for Phoenix. 

Grisgsby, who replaced injured Justin Brownlee as the Ginebra import, was the lone Gin King in double figures with 42 points, 14 rebounds and two steals. 

Gray had nine points while RJ Abarrientos finished with eight. The two combined for 6-of-30 shooting.