Hot-sniping Jazul leads Phoenix over ROS

MANILA, Philippines — Powered by RJ Jazul’s long bombs, rising Phoenix made it two-in-a-row with a 106-102 win over Rain or Shine in yesterday’s PBA Philippine Cup at the MOA Arena.

Jazul fired a 25-point sizzler spiked by a six-of-eight clip from deep, giving the Fuel Masters the needed spark in creating separation and later extinguishing the threat of the rallying Elasto Painters.

It was a nice follow-up to Friday’s 97-74 rout of Terrafirma for Phoenix, which has rebounded from its opening losses to San Miguel and Meralco and reached the .500 mark for the first time this season.

“For us, it’s about getting better from our last game,” said coach Topex Robinson. “We brought the experience of playing the Dyip into this game and we’re blessed to get the same result.”

Phoenix had a 16-point lead in the first half but ROS kept on fighting back until it got within one at 87-86.

But Jazul was there once more to bail the Fuel Masters out.

He calmly made all three free throws off a landing spot foul by Jewel Ponferada then hit his fifth triple in the ensuing play to restore a seven-point spread. Jazul’s sixth three-pointer gave Phoenix a 106-102 cushion.

“I have to be composed for the last five para hindi ma-rattle yung grupo,” said the former Letran standout.

In a Manila Clasico thriller, Magnolia bucked the absence of injured gunner Paul Lee and the ejection of Calvin Abueva to escape past Barangay Ginebra, 89-84.

Ian Sangalang punched in 24 markers with eight rebounds while Rome dela Rosa hit a clutch endgame trey as the Hotshots got back on track for 2-3. They handed the Gin Kings their first setback in three starts.

NOTES: The PBA slapped NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio with a P20,000 fine for his action at the end of the Batang Pier’s losing game against Blackwater last Saturday…According to commissioner Willie Marcial, Jarencio violated league rules against “physical contact” when he belly-bumped Bossing counterpart Ariel Vanguardia during their confrontation…Jarencio was angered by Vanguardia’s decision to call for a timeout with six seconds left only to eventually instruct the Bossing not to take a shot anymore.